A tragic train collision in the Czech city of Pardubice has left four people dead and dozens injured. The incident occurred late Wednesday when an express train collided head-on with a freight train near the main train station in Pardubice, about 100 kilometers east of Prague.
According to reports from local emergency services, the express train was carrying more than 300 passengers, many of whom were foreigners. The collision resulted in injuries that were described as “incompatible with life” for four individuals. Emergency responders swiftly mobilized, with nine ambulance vans, two helicopters, and over 60 firefighters, including both professional and voluntary personnel, rushing to the scene.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his condolences on social media, acknowledging the severity of the crash as a “great disaster.” He emphasized that the thoughts of the nation are with the victims and the injured.
The interior and transport ministers also arrived at the site to oversee the response efforts. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan noted that while most injuries were light, passengers were evacuated into the train station building for medical attention. The express train, operated by the private Regiojet company, was en route to the western Ukrainian town of Chop near the border with Slovakia.
Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing, as Transport Minister Martin Kupka announced. The main train corridor connecting Prague with the cities of Brno and Ostrava will remain closed for several hours as authorities work to clear the scene and determine the circumstances leading to the tragic accident.
This incident is a somber reminder of the risks inherent in rail transport and underscores the importance of stringent safety measures to prevent such tragedies. Pardubice, tragically, has experienced a similar disaster in the past, recalling a devastating railway accident in 1960 that claimed numerous lives.
Sources By Agencies
