A freight train engine was completely destroyed by fire after part of a cargo train derailed between Masimba and Kivati in Makueni County on Wednesday evening.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 5:40 p.m. as the train was transporting 22 wagons of soda ash from Magadi to Mombasa.
Preliminary reports indicate that the train lost control upon reaching the section, causing several wagons to derail, with about half of them overturning.
The locomotive subsequently caught fire, with police indicating that the blaze is believed to have started after sparks ignited beneath the train.
The driver and his assistant, assisted by members of the public, attempted to extinguish the flames but were unable to contain the fire.
To prevent the blaze from spreading to the rest of the train, the second wagon was detached from the burning locomotive.
Despite the efforts, the locomotive was completely engulfed by the fire and destroyed.
Police have launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the derailment and the subsequent fire.
