A train crash in a remote part of Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 100 people and injured more than 200, the central African country's minister of information said today.
"We are still discovering the dead. So right now we are putting the death toll at about 100," Toussaint Tshilombo said, adding that the cause of the crash was still unknown.
"It happened late last night, so we haven't had time to look into how it occurred. But we are sending a team tomorrow, and we will launch an investigation."
The accident took place late yesterday near Benaleka, around 220 km (140 miles) northwest of the town of Kananga in Western Kasai province.
Injured survivors initially walked or were transported by bicycle from the scene of the wreck 12 km (7.5 miles) to the nearest hospital, Congo's UN peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym MONUC, said.
Of more than 220 hurt, 128 people were seriously injured, it said.
The UN peacekeeping force helped with rescue operations today.
"It happened last night around 11 o'clock. This afternoon we sent a helicopter with doctors, nurses, and local authorities. At the moment, they are on the ground there," said Alexandre Essone, a MONUC public information officer in Kananga.