By Barth Ikiebe
NO fewer than three people lost their lives on Monday when five train coaches capsized at Agbor Railway Station in Delta State, throwing the morning commute into chaos and leaving scores injured.
The incident, which happened shortly before 11:00 am, involved a stationary passenger train that suddenly keeled over. Witness accounts suggest the coaches were being shunted when they derailed and rolled onto their sides, trapping dozens of passengers beneath twisted metal.
Three bodies have been recovered so far, whilst multiple casualties are receiving treatment, and search efforts are ongoing for anyone still unaccounted for.
More than 20 injured passengers have been evacuated to Central Hospital Agbor and two private clinics. Some victims suffered broken limbs and head trauma, while others were treated for shock at the scene.
Rescue teams, including firefighters and Red Cross volunteers, are using hydraulic spreaders and cranes to lift the wreckage. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that more bodies remain trapped.
In a statement confirming the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said rescue and emergency response operations were ongoing at the scene along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor, while relevant authorities were working to ascertain the full extent of the crash.
The NRC has since suspended all services along the Warri–Itakpe line pending a full safety audit.
A senior NRC official told Newsmen that a team of engineers would inspect the track bed and rolling stock for signs of structural failure. The Corporation’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, added that further details would be communicated as they became available.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has sent condolences to the families of the deceased and directed the State Ministry of Health to provide free emergency care to all survivors.
