Johannesburg – The death toll in the fiery collision between a passenger train, truck and car near Kroonstad in the Free State on Thursday morning has risen to 18, the provincial government has confirmed.
Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said that officials conducting the search and rescue operation had updated that number of recovered bodies to 18. Earlier, the number was 14.
"We are hoping that the number will not increase but we are not ruling it out," Mvambi said.
He said rescuers were still searching three burnt-out carriages for more bodies.
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Earlier on Thursday, ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said at least 100 people were injured.
A section of the train had burst into flames after colliding with the vehicles. Those who had sustained injuries were treated on the scene, before being transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
"Provincial fire and medical services were the first to arrive on the scene, finding that several carriages were lying on the side. A fire had broken out in one of the carriages and had begun to spread," Meiring said in a statement.
According to a statement by Shosholoza Meyl, the train was travelling from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.
Although initial reports indicated that injuries numbered in the dozens, Netcare911 spokesperson Tebogo Magoro earlier confirmed 40 injured passengers and four fatalities.
Free State - #TrainCrash #Shosholoza latest pics from the scene outside Kroonstad @SiphoTowa pic.twitter.com/a6QUWDkQcI
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) January 4, 2018
Another video of the train that caught fire after colliding with a truck between Hennenman and Kroonstad in the Free State. Emergency services say between 100 and 200 people have sustained injuries. Authorities have not confirmed any fatalities. Vid: Supplied #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Y0Wz6mQI4b
— Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) January 4, 2018
Shosholoza train derailed outside Kroonstad.@maroelamedia @afriforum @IanCameron23 @HantiO @crimeairnetwork pic.twitter.com/hsq4uuQuWC
— Marius Müller (@Marius4060) January 4, 2018
Derailment update: 04 January 2018
— ShosholozaMeyl Train (@Shosholoza_Meyl) January 4, 2018
Media statement: 04 January 2018
Shosholoza Meyl Train 37012 (PE-Jhb) got derailed at Jeneva Level Crossing between Henneman and Kroonstad https://t.co/wXawpJO989@MthuraSwartz @TrainUpdater @MovingGauteng @Rail_Safety @GOVPAGE @PRASA_Group
[UPDATE] - Reports from the train collision in the Free State show that four people have sustained fatal injuries. @ewnupdates @eNCA @JacaNews @SABCNewsOnline @jour_maine @News24_SA @OFMNews9497 pic.twitter.com/RmBgaQoEqS
— ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd. (@ER24EMS) January 4, 2018
