South Africa train crash kills 18 and injures 250

More than a dozen people have died – with local media putting the total at 18 – and more than 250 have been injured in a train crash in South Africa yesterday. Television news footage showed fire engulfing one of the train’s carriages after the accident, which occurred after the train hit a lorry, derailed and burst into flames as it travelled between Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

The train – which struck the lorry at a level crossing – was carrying 429 people, most of who were returning home after the holidays.