Four people are dead and hundreds more were injured when two trains collided during the early morning rush hour commute in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday.

Hundreds of commuters remain trapped inside the carriages and emergency response officials say the number of fatalities might rise as the wreckage is being cleared.

Abramjee/Twitter via Reuters

Shawn Herbst, the media liaison officer of Netcare 911, a private emergency medical response company, told ABC News there were about 800 people on the two trains and more than 620 sustained minor to moderate injuries. One person was critically injured and airlifted to a local hospital.

Abramjee/Twitter via Reuters

Emergency workers from the City of Tshwane are helping to treat the wounded and free the trapped passengers.

The city's mayor, Solly Msimanga, sent his condolences to the victims' families via his official Twitter account.

A sad day in @CityTshwane

We send our condolences to the families of those who passed on and we wish all those injured a speedy recovery#Mountainviewtrainaccident pic.twitter.com/UzNt7AGpOR — Solly Msimanga (@SollyMsimanga) 8 January 2019

Accident investigators are combing the scene for clues about the cause of the accident in a probe that is expected to last for several days.</s>The scene of a train collision at the Mountainview station in Pretoria, South Africa

The scene of a train collision at the Mountainview station in Pretoria, South Africa

THREE PEOPLE HAVE been killed and more than 600 people have been injured after two passenger trains collided head on during in South Africa’s capital city Pretoria.

Two critically injured people were airlifted from the scene of the crash in Mountain View, northern Pretoria, spokesman Charles Mabaso told AFP.

Another 641 people were hurt, with 11 sustaining critical injuries and 62 suffering “moderate” injuries.

“The current fatalities stand at three, but it still might rise,” said Mabaso.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found carriages from both trains tilting half off the track.

“Numerous passengers were found either in the trains or found walking around on the scene,” Russel Meiring, a spokesman for the ER24 emergency services, said in a statement.

Rail accidents are common in South Africa. In 2016-17, 495 people were killed on the country’s railways, according to the Railway Safety Regulator.

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande said the accident was caused by signals failure which he blamed on cable theft.

“I’m truly saddened about this continuing deaths of commuters at Metrorail,” said the minister after visiting the scene of the crash.

“I’m personally outraged … we can’t every time be having the repeat of the same problem.

“As government, we have to bring this to end. We need more stringent measures to be able to deal with this situation.

“We need to find a way of dealing with rail safety,” he said, demanding explanation from the country’s rail agency.

The theft of railway cables is a continuing problem in the country. They are often melted into ingots before being smuggled to Asia.

Khanyisile Kweyama, the chairwoman of the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, admitted that the security of rail signalling cables “hasn’t been” great.</s>The incident happened on Tuesday morning when two trains crashed in the capital Pretoria, an emergency services official said. Charles Mabaso told Reuters: "We have got two confirmed fatalities, and we have got different emergency services on site." A Pretoria police officer, who asked not to be named, told Times Live: “At the moment it appears that two people are dead, with a heck of a lot more badly injured.

South Africa train crash: Dozens have been injured in the incident in Pretoria

"Emergency services are trying to reach the injured who are trapped inside the carriages.”

The incident happened at around 10am local time.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said: ”Reports from the scene indicate that on initial assessment two people had sadly died, two sustained critical injuries and had to be flown to hospital via helicopter.</s>Three people died and 620 other commuters were injured when two trains collided near Pretoria's Mountain View train station‚ Netcare911 said on Tuesday afternoon.

Netcare911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst told SowetanLIVE that injuries suffered ranged from minor to moderate.

"All the people have been removed. One person sustained critical injuries."

Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the two trains were both travelling on the same line towards Pretoria from Mabopane.

Mofokeng said a board of inquiry would be instituted to determine the root cause of the accident.

Trains running between Pretoria‚ Mabopane and Dewildt are suspended until further notice.</s>PRETORIA - The number of people injured during a train crash at the Wolmerton train station in Mountain View, Pretoria, has now doubled.

Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi has confirmed that 620 people have been injured and the number of fatalities remain at three.

Vadi has conveyed his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. He says of the 620 injured, at least three have been confirmed dead.

The MEC says 11 people sustained serious injuries while over 600 had minor to moderate injuries.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa says the cost estimates for the repairs stands at approximately R21 million.

The MEC says although investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accidents, he's conceded that the area where the crash occurred has been battling with cable theft and vandalism for some time.</s>4 people died and 620 other commuters were injured when two trains collided near Pretoria’s Mountain View train station, Netcare911 said on Tuesday afternoon.

Netcare911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst told reporters that injuries suffered ranged from minor to moderate.

“All the people have been removed. One person sustained critical injuries,” he said.

Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the two trains were both travelling on the same line towards Pretoria from Mabopane.</s>According to the local emergency services, two trains have collided in Pretoria, leaving at least two people dead.

"We have got two confirmed fatalities, and we have got different emergency services on site", an emergency services official said, according to Reuters.

A video from the site has appeared on Twitter.</s>PRETORIA - Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga says they have raised safety concerns with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) in the past around their Metrorail trains in Pretoria.

Msimanga was speaking to the media after a train crash in the North West of Pretoria.

Three people died and over 300 others were injured during the collision at the Mountain View station.

"The line between Mabopane and Pretoria has had a number of accidents. It's something that should be a concern and looked at as a matter of urgency."

Msimanga says the metro will be meeting with Prasa soon to get answers surrounding safety issues.

The mayor says Metrorail trains have had signal problems and not much has been done to fix that. Prasa says investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng says buses will be provided for commuters with valid train tickets.

The train line between Mabopane station and Pretoria station will remain closed till further notice.</s>Four people died and 620 other commuters were injured when two trains collided near Pretoria’s Mountain View train station, Netcare911 said on Tuesday afternoon.

Netcare911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst told TimesLIVE that injuries suffered ranged from minor to moderate.

“All the people have been removed. One person sustained critical injuries.”

Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the two trains were both travelling on the same line towards Pretoria from Mabopane.

Mofokeng said a board of inquiry would be instituted to determine the root cause of the accident.

Trains running between Pretoria, Mabopane and Dewildt are temporarily suspended until further notice.

All commuters in possession of valid weekly and monthly tickets will be transported by bus until the line is reopened.

Metrorail said it would set up a walk-in centre at Pretoria station to assist commuters involved in the accident.

“We urge commuters to bring the relevant documents with for processing,” Mofokeng said.

Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Ismail Vadi has called on the Passenger Rail Agency of SA and the Railway Safety Regulator to “urgently investigate” the cause of the crash.

Vadi said urgent measures must also be implemented to improve commuters’ safety on trains.

“We are deeply shocked by this tragic accident so early in the new year.

“We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Vadi said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to the crash victims.

“Our thoughts are with those who lost their lives and their families. To the injured I would like to wish you all a speedy recovery,” Ramaphosa said.

“I would like to also encourage emergency services team on the scene to do all in their powers to help those who are still trapped under the train.”

Transport minister Blade Nzimande, Prasa and the Railway Safety Regulator will host a media briefing on Tuesday at 5pm.</s>JOHANNESBURG - A number of fatalities have been recorded and at least 800 people injured following a train crash in Mountainview, northwest of Pretoria.

Tshwane emergency services are on the scene and treating some of the patients.

It is understood that two locomotives collided on Tuesday morning.

EMS acting chief Charles Mabaso says officials have also recorded some fatalities.
Two passenger trains collide in Pretoria, South Africa, killing at least four people and injuring at least 620 others.