Closure Of Ndola-Sakania Railway Line Due to Sinkhole Incident

Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) would like to inform its stakeholders and members of the general public that the Ndola–Sakania Railway line, connecting Ndola to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via Sakania, has been closed due to a sinkhole incident that occurred on 11th February 2025.

Initial findings by the engineering team have revealed that a sinkhole measuring approximately twenty (20) metres in diameter and fifteen (15) metres in depth developed six (6) metres away from the railway line. In addition, cracks have been observed 20 metres away from the sinkhole, with some crossing the railway line.

This has raised concerns about ground stability and infrastructure integrity, leading to the closure of the railway line. The safety and well-being of all stakeholders using the railway line remain ZRL’s top priority, hence the immediate safety measure of closing the railway line. It is suspected that the area sits on a limestone aquifer, which may contribute to the formation of sinkholes.

The sinkhole poses significant safety risks to train operations and the surrounding community, as further ground movement could lead to additional sinkhole formations.

The closure of the railway line has also resulted in the disruption of business operations, affecting cross-border rail transportation between Zambia and the DRC.

ZRL is collaborating closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, to ensure a coordinated response to this unfortunate incident.