A train belonging to TransNamib which was transporting acid in tankers and other goods in cargos derailed Thursday night near Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region.

TransNamib on Friday issued a media statement saying 13 tankers with acid inside which were towed by the train were damaged, causing volumes of the unspecified acid to spill off onto the ground surface.

The accident occurred at about 21h30 and no injuries were reported from the incident, said TransNamib in the statement.

“TransNamib on that Thursday immediately dispatched an emergency team to barricade the area with a plan to avoid contamination to the land and also to reactivate the rehabilitation activities on the area where the spill off took place,” said TransNamib.

All railway transportation services between Otjiwarongo and Otavi have been suspended indefinitely until the area is declared safe, repaired and cleared of any danger, said the statement.

The company launched an investigation to assist in determining the exact cause of the accident and apologised to its customers transporting their goods and heavy loads through the railway line system between Otjiwarongo and Otavi.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency