Prague [Czech], June 7: Czech authorities have launched an investigation after four people were killed and 27 more hospitalized when a passenger train collided with a freight train near the city of Pardubice on Wednesday night.
"The collision of the two trains in Pardubice is a big tragedy," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote on X, offering his condolences. "We are all thinking of the victims and the injured," he added.
The overnight passenger train from Prague to the Slovakian city of Koice was carrying around 380 passengers when it collided with the cargo transporter.
Large numbers of firefighters, paramedics and doctors as well as two rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene of the accident, some 100 kilometres east of Prague.
Of the 27 passengers injured, up from initial estimates of 23, five had moderately severe injuries. Images from the scene showed the first carriage of the passenger train was badly damaged, with material damage estimated at more than $4.9 million.
Investigations begin to discover cause of crash.
Source: Qatar Tribune