Firefighters work at the scene of a train crash in Pardubice, Czech Republic, in this handout image released June 6, 2024. | Photo credit: VIA REUTERS
A passenger train collided head-on with a freight train in the Czech Republic, killing at least four people and injuring 27 others, officials said Thursday.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said the crash occurred late Wednesday night in the town of Pardubice, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Prague. The high-speed passenger train was owned by the private company RegioJet.
Mr Rakušan said none of the injured were in life-threatening condition.
Rescuers said there were 380 passengers on board the train heading to the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia and on to Chop across the border in Ukraine.
At least two Ukrainian women were killed in the crash, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“An official from the Consulate of Ukraine in (the Czech city of) Brno is on site and in constant contact with rescue and law enforcement authorities,” the report said.
The drivers of both trains survived, according to local news agency CTK.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka said the main rail line between Prague and the eastern part of the country had to be closed while authorities investigated the collision. Nine hours later, the route was only partially reopened and the state train company, Czech Railways, advised passengers not to use the route for the entire day.
The corridor in Pardubice, where the trains collided, is crucial for Czech Railways.
Martin Drápal, a spokesman for a state agency that investigates train accidents, said the driver of the train carrying passengers failed to stop the train at a stop sign. He said it was not immediately clear whether that was caused by human error or a technical problem.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the crash a great tragedy and offered his condolences to the families of the dead. This includes Radim Jančura, the owner of RegioJet, who said his company was prepared to compensate the passengers.
