More than 300 people injured in train crash in South Africa

Johannesburg, Jul 17: More than 300 people were injured in a commuter train collision in South Africa, an emergency services spokeswoman said on today.

Nana Radebe, spokeswoman for Johannesburg Emergency Services, said 326 people were rushed to nearby hospitals with minor to serious injuries. No fatalities have been reported.

"For now we have removed people with minor to serious injuries, but none critical," she said, adding that firefighters were still searching for commuters who may be trapped inside the train cars. Radebe earlier said those injured numbered more than 400.

The trains were on the same track, Radebe told The Associated Press, and it appeared that a travelling train collided with a stationery train. The accident happened at rush hour between two stations, with both trains travelling from the Johannesburg city center to the township of Soweto, said Lillian Mofokeng, the Metrorail spokeswoman for the Gauteng province.

The cause of the accident was unknown and authorities were still gathering information about the collision, Mofokeng said. "Our priority right now is just to attend to the injured and then arrange alternative transport," she said. About 100 passengers who were not injured would be bussed home, said Mofokeng.

(AP)