Train-bus accident in Slovakia: Six dead after collision in Nove Zamky

At least six people were killed when an international express train collided with a bus at a railway crossing in southern Slovakia, according to rescue workers.

According to a Facebook post by emergency services, the accident occurred near the town of Nove Zamky, about 80 kilometers east of the capital Bratislava.

News agencies report that at least five other people were injured in the incident, which occurred around 5pm local time (4pm BST).

The bus and train drivers were among those injured. They were taken to hospital, while the bus driver’s life is in critical condition.

All of the fatalities are believed to be passengers on the Arriva bus, which authorities say was cut in half by the impact.

Photos showed the locomotive ablaze and passengers running to safety along the tracks.

“I fear that the number of people killed in this accident could rise,” Petra Klimesova, a spokeswoman for the emergency services, told AFP.

At the time of the collision, there were about 200 people on the train and nine on the bus, officials said at a press conference.

The train was the regular EuroCity train 279, which ran from Prague via Bratislava to Budapest.

The train was operated by a locomotive of the Czech Railways, which pulled wagons of the Slovak Railways.

Czech Railways praised the actions of its train driver, who said his quick intervention prevented injuries to train passengers and prevented a derailment.

He is said to have jumped into the control room seconds before impact and suffered burns in the ensuing fire.

According to a statement by an Arriva spokeswoman quoted in Slovak media, the bus driver had more than thirty years of experience.

Local media released video footage of passengers carrying their luggage next to a partially burning train as thick gray smoke rose into the sky.

According to unconfirmed Slovak media reports, the level crossing was equipped with lights and barriers, but these had been put out of service by a recent storm.

It is unclear whether they were functioning properly at the time of the collision.

The Slovak Railways has not commented on the allegations.

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, who was on site, wrote on social media that “a small moment of inattention is enough and life can change in a hundredth of a second – forever.”

“This sad event should serve as a reminder to all of us to pay attention to safety on the roads and at railway crossings.”

Passenger Katarina Molnarova told AFP that as she left Nove Zamky station she felt and heard a crash and a bang.

“After a few minutes we were able to get out,” said the 43-year-old beautician.

“We saw that the front part of the train was on fire.”

She added that there was “no shouting or panic” and that the passengers took their luggage and walked to the street.

Five ambulances and three rescue helicopters were sent to the scene of the accident, emergency services said.