Gabon: all trains blocked after a landslide on the Transgabonais

The transport of ore on the Transgabonais line which crosses the country (Illustrative image).

© Vincent Vaquin/Creative Commons

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1 min

The only railway has been cut for four days in Gabon.

The heavy rains and the recent 4.8 magnitude earthquake led to a landslide that buried and tore the railway line for a very long distance.

Engineers and technicians are tearing their hair out because the repairs promise to be very difficult.

On the eve of New Year's Eve, people fear shortages and soaring prices.

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With our correspondent in Libreville,

The landslide occurred on Christmas Eve.

Images filmed by drones show a chaotic situation.

A mountain of earth has moved.

She tore out about 900 meters of rails.

ore transport train

became trapped in mud before derailing.

Several ministers visited the site.

A crisis committee has been set up to quickly restart traffic suspended since December 24 on the

.

Repair work may be difficult.

Economic consequences

The economic consequences are heavy.

All trains are blocked.

Manganese, wood, petroleum and food products no longer circulate.

The route crosses five of the country's nine provinces.

Fuel shortages and soaring prices of basic necessities are feared in the country.

During a press conference, Christian Magni, the general manager of the Société d'exploitation du Transgabonais (Setrag), said that the authorities plan to transport goods and passengers by road.

► To read also: In Gabon, the arrival of a new shareholder will revitalize the Transgabonais

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• Gabon

• Transportation

• Natural disasters