A collision involving two trains near České Budějovice in southern Czech Republic this morning has resulted in 57 people sustaining injuries, with two individuals in critical condition, according to the regional rescue service. The incident forced a suspension of traffic between Ceske Budejovice and Plzen, expected to last until the afternoon.
The cause of the train crash is under investigation, with the Czech transport minister suggesting that one of the trains may have disregarded a red signal. The regional rescue service confirmed that a total of 57 individuals were hurt in the collision, but the exact number of severe injuries remains uncertain. While two people were reported as seriously injured by the rescue service, a Ceske Budejovice hospital later disclosed that they were treating five individuals with serious injuries.
Following a series of recent railway mishaps in central Europe, this incident adds to the string of accidents. In neighboring Slovakia, 13 people were hospitalized after a train collision near Bratislava on November 9. Additionally, on October 13, two trains collided in eastern Slovakia, resulting in injuries to numerous passengers, including two critical cases.
Evacuation buses were deployed to assist unaffected passengers away from the crash site. Among the injured, 42 individuals sustained injuries, with five classified as serious cases. Jan Kučera, Inspector General of the Railway Inspection, stated that a team of four inspectors is examining whether the crash was due to human error, technical malfunctions, or system failures.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka provided an update on the situation, mentioning the collision between an express and passenger train, with reports of three serious injuries and around 40 minor injuries. He indicated ongoing monitoring of the incident and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured. The Railway Inspectorate has initiated an investigation into the matter, with initial information suggesting that the express train may have passed a signal set to STOP.
A regional hospital spokesperson confirmed that five individuals were admitted with severe injuries, while others suffered minor injuries. Images of the collision aftermath show the two train carriages smashed together. The total count of injured persons reached 42, with two severe and around 40 minor cases. Authorities are actively probing the cause of the crash, which occurred near Ceske Budejovice early in the morning.