Lagos — At least 117 people were killed and 400 hurt in a train crash in the southern African nation of Mozambique yesterday, the transport minister said.

The accident happened Saturday morning near the town of Tenga in Maputo province, 24 miles from the capital Maputo, Transport and Communications Minister Tomas Salomao told reporters.

"There are at least 117 dead," Salomao said. "There are many in a serious condition and the death toll could climb."

Radio Mozambique quoted police and fire department sources as saying the train had "technical problems" with its brakes. But Salomao said the cause of the accident was still unknown and investigators had done to the scene to investigate.

The train was described as being made up of freight cars and passenger carriages and was traveling on the Maputo-Ressano Gracia railway that links Mozambique with South Africa.

President Joaquim Chissano canceled meetings in his home village of Malaice in southern Mozambique on hearing the news and was returning to the capital, a senior minister said.

"At this time of tragedy, I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives," Chissano said in a brief statement issued to the media in Maputo.