Somali Region, Ethiopia – At least fourteen people lost their lives and twenty-nine others were injured after a passenger train derailed late Monday night along the Dire Dawa–Dewele railway line in eastern Ethiopia, local officials have confirmed.
According to information from the Shinile Woreda administration, the accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. in the Shinile district of the Somali region. The train, which was traveling from Dewele toward Dire Dawa, was operating as a public transport service and was reportedly full of passengers at the time of the incident.
Emergency teams and local residents rushed to the site in the early hours of the morning to rescue survivors and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Several of those hurt suffered fractures and head injuries, with some said to be in critical condition. Authorities have not yet disclosed the total number of passengers aboard the train when it derailed.
While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that a mechanical failure or track obstruction could have contributed to the accident. Railway officials and regional authorities have dispatched a technical team to assess the damage and determine the root cause of the derailment.
The Dire Dawa–Dewele line, part of the route linking Ethiopia to Djibouti, is a crucial artery for both trade and passenger movement. Monday night’s tragedy has shocked residents in the Somali region and sparked renewed concerns about railway safety and maintenance standards along the line.
Local officials have expressed condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident.