In the early morning[1] or evening[2] of 27 March 1974, a southbound train carrying passengers from Rhodesia crashed head-on with a stationary northbound Mozambican freight train that was holding, among other things, petroleum products.
[1][2][3] The crash occurred in Magude, Portuguese Mozambique, some miles north of the capital, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).
[1] The extreme heat caused the affected cars to melt, killing the passengers inside.
[1] Several passengers from the coaches that were not burning attempted to save some of the victims, but were forced to turn back due to the flames.
President William Tolbert of Liberia sent his condolences to Mozambican Prime Minister Joaquim Chissano.