Nove Zamky, June 28, 2024, The Europe Today: In a devastating incident, seven people were killed and five others injured after a Eurocity train traveling from Prague to Budapest collided with a bus on Thursday. The accident occurred just after 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) near the town of Nove Zamky in southern Slovakia, according to rescue officials.
Authorities have warned that the death toll might increase as investigations continue.
The railway line connecting Bratislava, the Slovak capital, to Budapest will remain closed until at least 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) as emergency services work at the scene.
Details of the Crash
The Eurocity train, carrying approximately 200 passengers, met with the accident at a railway crossing equipped with barriers and light signals. Railway officials reported that the bus involved was severely damaged in the collision.
Vladimira Bahylova, a spokeswoman for the railway, informed the French AFP news agency that the train’s driver suffered burns when the locomotive caught fire. Passengers were subsequently transported by buses to the town of Sturovo on the Hungarian border.
Eyewitness Accounts
Katarina Molnarova, a passenger who recorded a video of the aftermath, described the scene: “I felt and heard a crash and a bang just as the train left Nove Zamky station. We saw the front part of the train on fire. There was no screaming or panicking. We grabbed our luggage and walked to the road. I saw parts of the bus that had been scattered upon impact.”
Official Responses and Investigation
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who was attending an EU summit in Brussels, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. “I wish the injured a speedy recovery and thank the doctors and rescue teams for their work,” Pellegrini stated. “I hope such catastrophes will avoid Slovakia in the future.”
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, who arrived at the scene, announced that authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
This tragic incident has shocked the local community and highlights the importance of stringent safety measures at railway crossings to prevent future accidents.
