LUSAKA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A state-run railway firm on Thursday said a passenger train that derailed in the southern part of Zambia was caused by acts of sabotage.
A passenger train that was traveling from Lusaka, the country's capital to the southern city of Livingstone derailed in Magoye district on Wednesday noon, leaving one person dead and 12 injured.
The Zambia Railways Limited said investigations have established that the derailment was due to missing railway components called 'fish bolts' and 'fish plates' used for joining the rail which were vandalized.
"This could have led to massive loss of lives, had it not been to the quick action and professionalism of the Zambia Railways crew," it said in a statement.
The company further said it was losing colossal sums of money in repair and replacement of infrastructure due to acts of vandalism and sabotage.
