At Least Four Dead and 23 Injured in Czech Train Crash

At least four people were killed and more than 20 others injured when a passenger train collided with a freight train in the Czech Republic on Wednesday night, international news agencies reported, citing authorities.

Some 20 people suffered light injuries and another three were more seriously hurt in the crash in the city of Pardubice, along the country’s main rail corridor from Prague to the east, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said.

Martin Kavka, a spokesperson for the country’s rail operator, said the number of casualties may increase, Agence France-Presse reported.

The passenger train, operated by RegioJet, was traveling overnight from Prague to Chop in western Ukraine, according to the operator’s website.

It was carrying more than 300 passengers, citing Fire Rescue Services.

Footage after the crash on news website idnes.cz showed at least one carriage off the track, while police showed a line of emergency service vehicles and a helicopter in a post on X.

Informace k železniční nehodě v Pardubicích zde: https://t.co/2kxR2gA4nR pic.twitter.com/AplVdmtilS

— HZS Pardubický kraj (@HZS_Pardubice) June 6, 2024

Public broadcaster Czech Television cited a fire brigade spokesperson saying the freight train was carrying calcium carbide – a hazardous industrial chemical – although the first two wagons were empty, so no leak occurred, Reuters reported.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka, who traveled with the interior minister to the crash site, told a televised briefing an investigation into the accident was beginning and it was too early to speculate on its cause, according to Reuters.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the crash a big tragedy and offered his condolences to the families of those killed.

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