Maputo — At least three people died and four others were seriously injured in a derailment on Tuesday night in the central Mozambican province of Sofala.

The accident occurred on the Sena line, when a goods train operated by the Beira Railroad Company (CCFB) came off the tracks near the bridge over the Chitsadze river, eight kilometers from the Inhamitanga rail station, in Cheringoma district.

According to the Cheringoma district administrator, Ricardo Guilande, the four injured people, all believed to be CCFB workers, where immediately evacuated to Beira Central Hospital, where they are undergoing medical treatment.

Guilande said that there were 21 wagons in the train, 19 of which came off the rails. The wagons were carrying material used in the current reconstruction of the Sena line, including rails, sleepers and cement.

The causes of the accident are not yet known. Recently the line has been sabotaged by thieves removing ballast and bolts that hold the rails in place. But this took place in Marromeu district, and Guilande said he did not believe that any similar sabotage had occurred in Cheringoma. He had been at the site of the derailment and had not seen any signs of sabotage.

A technical team from CCFB was sent to the area to ascertain the causes of the derailment. A crane was being sent to remove the damaged locomotive.