SOUTH AFRICA : South Africa train crash leaves at least four dead and dozens injured as carriages collide with truck

Four people have died and dozens were injured after a passenger train collided with a truck and a car in South Africa.

One of the train's carriages burst into flames after the accident in a rural area 110 miles south-west of Johannesburg.

Rescue group ER24 said there were around 100 casualties after the Port Elizabeth-Johannesburg train hit a vehicle near Hanneman.

Video of the crash in Free State province showed fire and smoke billowing from the carriage, with part of the train derailed and overhead power lines damaged.

A large vehicle was left upside down beside a train carriage that appeared to have partly crushed another, smaller vehicle. 

Passengers, some of whom were reportedly heading home after the New Year, were seen with their luggage on the side of the road close to the wreck. 

Private ambulance service Netcare 911 confirmed four people had died but listed the number of injured as around 40. 

Survivors told how they attempted to save fellow passengers trapped on the burning train.

“I saw around 12 cars on their side and one was already burning. We heard some women screaming when we came closer‚ so a few of us climbed over the cars to investigate,” Tiaan Esterhuizen told TimesLIVE.

“Two of the women were sort of on top of each other. Another was further back. Her legs were trapped. One of the women was shouting that there was a baby inside also‚” he said. “We searched but could not find the child.”

He added: “One man’s back was burned‚ others just had singed clothing. I am not really sure how the car was also involved.

"But other passengers told me they heard the train blowing its horn for a long time before the collision.”

The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities, and asked those affected to call +27 12 421 7500 in South Africa or 020 7008 1500 in the UK.