Czech train accident: At least four dead, dozens injured after collision in Pardubice

CNN
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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 evening, international news agencies reported, citing authorities.

About 20 people suffered minor injuries and three others were seriously injured in the accident in the town of Pardubice on the country’s main railway line from Prague to the east, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said, according to Reuters.

Martin Kavka, a spokesman for the country’s railway company, said the number of victims could rise, Agence France-Presse reported.

The passenger train, operated by RegioJet, was carrying more than 300 people, Reuters reported, citing the fire department.

CNN has contacted RegioJet for comment.

Footage of the accident on news website idnes.cz showed at least one train carriage next to the track, while police showed a number of emergency vehicles and a helicopter in a post on X.

Reuters reported that public broadcaster Czech Television, citing a fire department spokesman, said the freight train was carrying calcium carbide, a dangerous industrial chemical, but the first two wagons were empty, so there was no leak.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka, who travelled to the crash site with the interior minister, said in a televised press conference that an investigation into the accident had begun and it was too early to speculate about the cause of the accident, Reuters reported.

This is a developing story and will be updated.