Runaway Goods Train Carrying 450,000 Litres of Diesel Crashes at Mpopoma Station

A runaway goods train carrying 450,000 litres of diesel crashed at Mpopoma Station after brake failure, rupturing tankers, spilling fuel and triggering a major emergency response (image source)

A freight train transporting about 450,000 litres of diesel from Mozambique crashed at Mpopoma Station in Bulawayo after reportedly losing braking power, resulting in damage to several tank wagons and raising fears of a potential fuel fire. According to city officials, the train had been parked after running out of fuel but later began rolling downhill, striking a stationary locomotive and prompting a coordinated emergency response.

Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo confirmed that no fatalities had been recorded, although the collision caused multiple tankers to rupture, spilling diesel across the rail tracks. He said teams from the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the police were working on-site to stabilise the situation. Witnesses reported a “loud metallic explosion” just after midnight, followed by smoke and a strong smell of fuel.

Emergency teams dug containment trenches to prevent fuel seepage into nearby soil and water channels. Preliminary findings point to brake failure, though NRZ sources say crew handover procedures and parking protocols are also being reviewed. One official noted that the braking system may have lost pressure while the train was stationary, causing the wagons to roll.

NRZ spokesperson Andrew Khumalo said an internal board of inquiry had been established to examine maintenance records, brake system integrity and communication logs. He emphasised that safety remains the organisation’s priority and that NRZ is working closely with city emergency services to secure the site and recover the fuel.

The crash disrupted rail operations through Mpopoma Yard, a key transit point for fuel imports into Bulawayo. Engineers are assessing surrounding infrastructure for possible secondary damage, while environmental officers collect soil and water samples to evaluate contamination risks.

Residents near the station were briefly evacuated as a precaution, and motorists were advised to avoid the area until decanting operations and safety checks are completed.