Fifty killed after falling from train roof

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- More than 50 people died when they fell from the roof of a train as it crossed a bridge in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Local officials said the accident occurred when goods stacked on the roof snagged on the beams of the bridge and caused passengers sitting on the roof to be swept into the river below.

The accident occurred Monday as the train was traveling between the towns of Kindu and Lubumbashi, the Voice of America reported.

Congolese commonly ride on the roofs of freight trains, as public transport is almost non-existent in remote areas, the report said.