Train and Bus Collision Leaves Seven Dead and Many Injured in Slovakia
Image Source: The Guardian
Nearly seven people were killed and five injured after an international express train collided with a bus in southern Slovakia. The ambulance services said all the people who died were traveling on the bus.
The crash between the bus and the train was so intense that the people were badly burnt and many were severely injured. Many people have been burnt so badly that their faces and remains are unable to be identified, said Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok.
The accident occurred on Thursday near Nove Zamky, approximately 80 km east of Bratislava, just after 17:00 local time.
There were nearly 200 people traveling on the train while nine people were traveling on the bus at the time of the collision.
The incident was so devastating that the Arriva bus was sliced into two parts. The drivers of the vehicles are severely injured.
The train was the EuroCity 279 service traveling from Prague to Budapest via Bratislava, operated by a Czech Railways locomotive pulling Slovak Railways carriages. The Czech railway driver took prompt action and prevented the train from derailment and prevented injuries to train passengers. While he was trying to save the train by jumping into the control room seconds before impact, he suffered burns in the subsequent fire.
An Arriva spokeswoman told Slovak media that the bus driver had over 30 years of experience. The local media published videos of passengers carrying their luggage alongside the burning train, which was releasing heavy smoke into the sky. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, with conflicting reports about whether the level crossing barriers and lights were functioning properly.
Slovakian Railways has not yet responded to the incident nor commented on the claims. Mr. Estok, who witnessed the incident, took to social media and said, “A little inattention is enough and life can change in a hundredth of a second – forever. Let this sad event be a reminder for all of us to pay attention to safety on the roads and at railroad crossings.”
Passenger Katarina Molnarova told AFP that just as she left Nove Zamky station she felt and heard a crash and bang. Another passenger, who was nearly 43 years old, said, “After a couple of minutes we were able to get off. We saw that the frontal part of the train was on fire.”
Emergency services, including five ambulances and three air ambulances, were dispatched to the scene. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok emphasized the importance of safety at road and rail crossings following the accident.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Sapna Dodmani, hailing from Colaba, Cuffe Parade, is a driven second-year Multimedia student at KC College. A state and national-level sports player, she brings the same passion and dedication to her academic and professional pursuits as she does to the field. With a fervent interest in journalism, Sapna is committed to leveraging her platform to effect meaningful societal change. Her unique blend of athletic discipline and journalistic ambition positions her as a future leader poised to make a significant impact through her work.
Latest entries
English10 July 2024NATO 75th Summit Concludes with Statement to Provide Additional Air Defense Systems to Ukraine
English9 July 2024US President Joe Biden Condemns Russia for Brutal Attack on Ukraine
English8 July 2024Monsoons in Southeast Nations Bring Both Joy and Devastation, Wrecking Lives with Floods
English7 July 2024The Demise of Jon Landau Has Struck the Hollywood Industry
