Mozambique mourns rail crash dead

An inquiry into the crash has opened

MAPUTO, Mozambique (CNN) -- The African state of Mozambique is observing three days of official mourning for the 192 people killed in the country's worst rail disaster.

The crash of a train carrying passengers and freight to South Africa happened on Saturday morning at Moamba, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) north of the capital, Maputo.

The inquiry into the disaster, in which 169 people were injured, is believed to be centering on claims that the train developed a mechanical fault as it tried to climb a hill.

Mozambique's Minister of Transportation, Tomas Salomao confirmed reports that the train's engineer was implicated.

A very preliminary cause of the crash was "the result of a human mistake," he said.

Salomao stressed that a preliminary finding would likely not be released for a week and he would not offer specifics about the investigation.

Salomao also stressed that it was too early to conclude that the probe could turn into a criminal investigation.

As investigators continued their work at the scene, funerals for some of the victims were being held.

The minister said many of the 169 people who were injured were being treated in hospitals and medical facilities in the capital.

The casualty figures were significantly lower than first reported Salomao said, because of confusion at the accident scene and multiple reports of missing persons.

President Joachim Chissano went to the scene of the derailment on Sunday.

"He visited the place to understand what happened and to have a vision of the accident," Salomao said.

"It was important for him to understand the circumstances under which the accident happened."