On Monday, nearly 80 passengers were injured in Slovakia when a train en route from Kosice to Bratislava collided with a stationary freight train. Photo by EPA
Oct. 13 (UPI) — Scores of injuries were reported Monday after a train collision in Slovakia in central Europe.
Between 60 to 80 passengers were injured when a train en route from Kosice to Bratislava collide with a stationary freight train during morning rush hour on one of Slovakia’s primary transpiration corridors.
“A thorough investigation must clarify the causes of this tragedy,” Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said as he called for a full investigation.
It occurred at about 8 a.m. local time just outside the nation’s capital in Ljubljana.
Around 10 people sustained serious injuries, according to officials. Rescue crews and paramedics were on site within minutes.
Officials added injuries were primarily a result of force impact related to the subsequent derailment, but others were sedated due to shock.
Reports suggested the passenger train, traveling at a moderate speed, failed to receive a warning signal prior to the crash.
Afterward, one of the trains was seen suspended over a ravine as rescuers worked the scene.
The incident points a spotlight on Slovakia’s rail safety standards.
On Monday, Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said a preliminary look indicated that a breach of protocol resulted in the disaster.
Nine people died in 2009 when a train and tourist bus collided in central Slovakia.
According to Estok, one of the trains did not give way to the other and further pointed to human error.