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Heavy rains damage Zimbabwe railway line
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The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has temporarily halted operations on its South-East railway line following significant track damage caused by persistent rainfall. The affected sections include the Rutenga-Mbizi and Rutenga-Beitbridge routes, where heavy rains have caused severe washouts.
In a statement, NRZ reported that repair efforts are well underway, with 90% of the damaged area, totaling 480 meters, already realigned.
"We are experiencing washouts on some parts of our lines, particularly on the South-East line. The heavy rainfall has resulted in water flow exceeding the capacity of existing drainage structures," read the statement.
The damage has been extensive, with 360 meters of track washed away along the Rutenga-Mbizi section and 120 meters affected on the Rutenga-Beitbridge line. In some areas, the resulting gullies reach depths of up to two meters.
NRZ attributed the severity of the damage to the region's topography and the increasing impact of climate change, which has intensified rainfall patterns in recent years.
"The area is susceptible to such incidents because of its natural topographic formation. Although we have previously had similar experiences in the same corridor over the past few years, including on the Mozambican side, this has been worse than any washout we have seen before," the statement added.
To expedite repairs, wagons carrying ballast and quarry fines have been dispatched from the Nalatale Quarry Mine in Shangani to the affected areas.
Despite the extensive damage to infrastructure, NRZ confirmed that no injuries among staff or damage to rolling stock had been reported.
As climate change continues to exacerbate weather conditions, infrastructure resilience is becoming increasingly critical. NRZ's swift response to the current crisis reflects ongoing efforts to adapt to these challenges and ensure the safety and reliability of its operations.
In a statement, NRZ reported that repair efforts are well underway, with 90% of the damaged area, totaling 480 meters, already realigned.
"We are experiencing washouts on some parts of our lines, particularly on the South-East line. The heavy rainfall has resulted in water flow exceeding the capacity of existing drainage structures," read the statement.
The damage has been extensive, with 360 meters of track washed away along the Rutenga-Mbizi section and 120 meters affected on the Rutenga-Beitbridge line. In some areas, the resulting gullies reach depths of up to two meters.
"The area is susceptible to such incidents because of its natural topographic formation. Although we have previously had similar experiences in the same corridor over the past few years, including on the Mozambican side, this has been worse than any washout we have seen before," the statement added.
To expedite repairs, wagons carrying ballast and quarry fines have been dispatched from the Nalatale Quarry Mine in Shangani to the affected areas.
Despite the extensive damage to infrastructure, NRZ confirmed that no injuries among staff or damage to rolling stock had been reported.
As climate change continues to exacerbate weather conditions, infrastructure resilience is becoming increasingly critical. NRZ's swift response to the current crisis reflects ongoing efforts to adapt to these challenges and ensure the safety and reliability of its operations.
Source - NewZimbabwe
