Cargo train derails in Mombasa

A cargo train headed for Uganda derailed Sunday morning at Makupa Causeway in Mombasa, causing a commotion as locals tried to loot its cargo.

The cargo train came off the rails just minutes after it had set off, ferrying wheat from a godown in Mombasa.

The accident caused a commotion as looters descended on the wagons, a section launched canoes, searching the waters for loot.

Police officers were forced to fire in the air to scare away the looters intent on making away with sacks of wheat.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, however some locals blamed the accident on the poor condition of the railway-lines.

“They always lean a bit to the side, and today the train was too heavy,” an eyewitness told Citizen Digital.

The incident caused a traffic snarl-up with traffic building up until a rescue engine was deployed to help in retrieving the wagons.