Train collision ki-lls, injures many in Czech Republic | Read More
A passenger train has crashed into a freight train in the city of Pardubice, Czech Republic, killing at least four people.
The late Wednesday crash also injured more than 20 others, according to rescue services.
“A head-on collision between a RegioJet train and a freight train claimed several lives and left dozens injured,” Martin Netolicky, governor of the Pardubice region,said on Facebook.
Firefighters, paramedics, doctors, and at least one rescue helicopter have been deployed at the scene of the accident, some 100 kilometres east of Prague, the city capital.
The country’s interior and transport ministers said they were headed to the accident scene. In contrast, the country’s Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, expressed his “sincere condolences to all the bereaved” in a post on the social media platform X.
Reports stated that more than 300 passengers were on board.
According to the New York Times, the fast train, operated by RegioJet, was travelling overnight from Prague to Kosice in eastern Slovakia, the Railway Administration said.
The accident occurred shortly before 23:00 (2100 GMT) near the main train station in Pardubice, Czech TV reported.
As per Fire Rescue Services, over 300 passengers were on board.
Many of the passengers were foreigners, Czech TV said.
Footage on local media showed at least one carriage off the track after the crash.
While passengers were being ushered into buses near the Pardubice main station, Czech TV said.
Transport Minister, Martin Kupka said a major track between Prague and the eastern part of the country had to be shut down while authorities investigate the collision.
The freight train was carrying calcium carbide, a caustic, flammable chemical compound used in steel manufacturing, among other things. There was no leakage from the crash, according to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Pictures from the scene appeared to show some of the cars had derailed. Early Thursday, emergency workers were seen helping passengers and their luggage off the train in videos posted by the authorities. Uninjured passengers were taken to Pardubice Station, and children were given stuffed animals.
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