A train collision in the southern part of the Czech Republic has resulted in 57 individuals sustaining injuries, with two of them in critical condition, according to the regional rescue service. The incident occurred near České Budějovice, located approximately 74 miles south of Prague, with emergency responders arriving at the scene around 6:20 a.m. today. Travel between Ceske Budejovice and Plzen has been disrupted, with services not expected to resume until later in the day.
Although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the train collision, the Czech transport minister has suggested that one of the trains may have disregarded a red signal. The collision involved two trains, resulting in injuries to 57 individuals, with the severity of injuries still being assessed. Two individuals have been reported as seriously injured, while a hospital in Ceske Budejovice has confirmed the treatment of five individuals with severe injuries.
This incident follows a series of recent railway accidents in central Europe. Notably, on November 9, in neighboring Slovakia, 13 people were hospitalized following a train collision near Bratislava. Similarly, on October 13, in eastern Slovakia, a train crash left dozens of passengers injured, including two in critical condition.
Evacuation buses were deployed to assist uninjured passengers away from the crash site. Reports indicate that a total of 42 individuals sustained injuries, with five of them classified as serious. The Railway Inspection’s Inspector General, Jan Kučera, mentioned that investigations are ongoing to determine if the incident resulted from human error, technical malfunction, or systemic issues.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka provided an update, confirming the collision between an express train and a passenger train on the Zliví and Dívčice line, resulting in three serious injuries and around 40 minor injuries. Kupka assured continuous monitoring of the situation and emphasized the ongoing investigation by the Railway Inspectorate.
A regional hospital spokeswoman reported the admission of five individuals with serious injuries, while the rest of the victims suffered minor injuries. Images depicting the aftermath of the collision, showing the two train cars smashed together, have been circulating.
In total, 42 people were injured, with two individuals in critical condition and about 40 with minor injuries, as per the regional rescue service. Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances leading to the crash, which occurred near Ceske Budejovice early in the morning.