By Rahim Abdul
Authorities are probing the circumstances surrounding a cargo train derailment that caused nine diesel tanks to overturn, with four of them leaking fuel, at Kamwendo Railway Station on Saturday.
The freight train, identified as D511 and operated by 33-year-old Innocent Halala from Awali Village, TA Nanseta in Thyolo, was ferrying 35 diesel tanks from Nayuchi to Mozambique when the incident occurred.
According to Liwonde Police spokesperson Ngwashape Msume, preliminary findings suggest that the derailment happened after the train allegedly received a wrong signal from a switch point operator stationed in Nacala.
While no injuries or fatalities were reported, the incident triggered a swift response from police and Central East African Railways (CEAR) officials to secure the site and assess potential environmental risks posed by the leaking fuel.
G4S security personnel who were on board also assisted in safeguarding the cargo from potential theft.
Local residents gathered at the scene but were barred from getting close due to safety concerns.
Authorities are working to contain the spillage and avoid fire hazards or contamination of nearby water sources.
CEAR engineers have since begun efforts to clear the tracks and restore normal operations along the busy route, which is a major corridor for Malawi’s fuel and cargo imports and exports.
Msume confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish whether negligence or mechanical failure played a role.
Meanwhile, CEAR has urged communities along railway lines to remain vigilant and avoid approaching accident sites, stressing that leaking fuel poses serious dangers.
