Rail traffic between the towns of Mwene-Ditu and Kananga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been suspended for more than a month due to a landslide on the railway line. This incident took place between Kele and Lubi stations, about 505 and 506 kilometers from Mwene-Ditu, in Lomami province.
According to Raphaël Kasonga, the operations coordinator of the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC), the landslide carried away the earth over a distance of about 70 meters, causing the suspension of rail traffic. A train, called Colombe, which had arrived in Kananga from Mwene-Ditu, cannot return to Lubumbashi because of this incident.
Several passengers find themselves stranded in Kananga, Mwene-Ditu and other railway stations in the region. To remedy this situation, machinery is needed to backfill the earth, create a diversion and restore the railway line. However, this is expected to take more than a month as not all equipment is available in Mwene-Ditu yet.
In the Grand-Kasaï region, the railway is often confronted with erosion problems which hinder the smooth passage of trains. These incidents represent a risk of derailment if the track is not properly backfilled.
It is therefore essential to put in place quick and effective measures to restore rail traffic between Mwene-Ditu and Kananga. In the meantime, passengers are forced to find transport alternatives, which can lead to inconvenience and delays in their journeys.
The SNCC and the relevant authorities should take all necessary measures to resolve this problem and ensure a safe and reliable rail service in the region