A person who was injuried in the derailment accident is carried to a hospital in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, on June 22, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

The government of the Republic of Congo Tuesday declared a three-day national mourning on June 26-28 for victims killed in the train derailment near Pointe-Noire, the second biggest city of the country.

Government spokesman Bienvenu Okiemy said the government has also decided to hold a national funeral for the victims.

In the first publication of casualties, Okiemy said some 50 people were killed, 400 others wounded, and 15 were in serious condition.

Okiemy told the media that the train derailed at a curve on the way from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, the capital, causing four carriages to fall into a ravine. Overspeeding is believed to be the main cause of the accident.

After an emergent meeting on Tuesday morning, the government dispatched a group of investigators to the scene to further investigate the accident.