Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has confirmed the recovery of two bodies at the site of the tragic Bwana Mkubwa train derailment in Ndola, Copperbelt Province.
In a statement issued by ZRL Management, the railway company disclosed that the bodies were retrieved during ongoing search and recovery operations following the runaway shunt train accident involving locomotive 4346 and 11 coal-loaded wagons.
The accident occurred on 15 May 2026, between Bwana Mkubwa and Ndola Railway Station, near Itawa Bridge, after the train reportedly experienced a runaway movement before derailing.
ZRL explained that recovery operations have been active since the day of the incident, with support from multiple agencies including the District Commissioner’s Office, Zambia Police, the Fire Brigade, and other partner institutions.
The company also revealed that it deployed additional heavy lifting machinery to speed up the recovery process, including an excavator from the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
“The recovered bodies have been handed over to the relevant authorities for identification and further processes in line with established procedures,” ZRL stated.
Zambia Railways has since extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the derailment, describing the incident as tragic and painful.
The derailment has attracted widespread attention across the country, with many Zambians demanding improved safety measures in railway operations to prevent similar accidents in the future.
ZRL has not yet disclosed the identities of the recovered bodies, as the process of identification is being handled by the relevant authorities.