A devastating incident near Nove Zamky, southern Slovakia, has claimed the lives of seven people and left five injured after an international express train collided with a bus at a level crossing.
- Location and Timing: The collision occurred on Thursday near Nove Zamky, about 80km east of Bratislava, around 17:00 local time. The collision resulted in a fire that engulfed the bus, making identification of the deceased challenging due to severe burns.
- Casualties and Injuries: All fatalities were passengers on the bus, which was split in half upon impact. Both the bus and train drivers were among the injured, with about 200 passengers on the train and nine on the bus at the time of the collision.
- Train and Bus Details: The train involved was the EuroCity 279 service traveling from Prague to Budapest via Bratislava. It was operated by Czech Railways with Slovak Railways carriages. The bus was operated by Arriva.
- Response and Investigations: Emergency services responded swiftly with five ambulances and three air ambulances dispatched to the scene. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. Initial reports suggest discrepancies regarding the functioning of safety measures at the level crossing.
- Eyewitness Accounts: Eyewitnesses have provided conflicting reports about the status of the level crossing barriers and lights at the time of the collision, with some stating they were operational while others claim they were malfunctioning.
As investigations proceed, the tragic incident has underscored the importance of road and railway safety. Authorities and transport agencies are focused on determining the exact sequence of events and addressing any safety lapses that may have contributed to the collision.
