Magude train disaster

Train accident

Magude train disaster

Details
Date| 27 March 1974
Location| Magude
Coordinates| 25°01′23″S 32°38′53″E﻿ / ﻿25.02306°S 32.64806°E﻿ / -25.02306; 32.64806Coordinates: 25°01′23″S 32°38′53″E﻿ / ﻿25.02306°S 32.64806°E﻿ / -25.02306; 32.64806
Country| Portuguese Mozambique
Line| Lourenço Marques-Salisbury
Operator| Mozambique Railways
Incident type| Head-on collision, explosion
Cause| Excessive speed
Statistics
Trains| 2
Deaths| 70
Injured| 200

The Magude train disaster occurred on 27 March 1974 in Magude, Portuguese Mozambique, when a train carrying passengers from Rhodesia collided head-on with a Mozambican freight train, causing an explosion that killed 70 people and injured 200. At the time, it was the worst rail disaster in Mozambique's history.

## Overview[edit]

In the early morning[1] or evening[2] of 27 March 1974, a southbound train carrying passengers from Rhodesia crashed head-on with a stationary northbound Mozambican freight train that was holding, among other things, petroleum products.[1][2][3] The crash occurred in Magude, Portuguese Mozambique, some miles north of the capital, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).[1][2][3] The collision caused the petroleum products aboard the freight train to explode and shower burning oil and several coaches of the passenger train.[1] The extreme heat caused the affected cars to melt, killing the passengers inside.[1] Several passengers from the coaches that were not burning attempted to save some of the victims, but were forced to turn back due to the flames.[1]

On the day of the collision, it was reported that 60 passengers were killed.[1][3] Several days later, police reported 70 deaths and around 200 injuries.[2] The event was believed to be the worst rail disaster in Mozambique's history,[2] later surpassed by the Tenga rail disaster with 192 deaths. President William Tolbert of Liberia sent his condolences to Mozambican Prime Minister Joaquim Chissano.[4]

## See also[edit]

* Lists of rail accidents
* List of rail accidents (1970–79)
* List of explosions
* List of fires

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Mozambique Crash Reported To Kill Sixty" (PDF). The New York Times. 1974-03-28. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
2. ^ a b c d e "70 Killed In Train Crash". Oxnard Press Courier. 1975-03-30. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
3. ^ a b c Year Book Covering the Year ... Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation. 1975. p. 225.
4. ^ Tolbert, William R. (1972). Presidential Papers: Concluding period of the First Administration of President William R. Tolbert, Jr., August 1, 1974-December 31, 1975. Republic of Liberia, Executive Mansion. p. 91.

* v
* t
* e

Railway accidents in 1974 (1974)

Location and date|

* Magude, Portuguese Mozambique (27 March)
* San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Italy (4 August)
* Zagreb, Yugoslavia (30 August)

1973 1975
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