BRATISLAVA, Slovakia—A tragic incident occurred when a train traveling from Prague to Budapest collided with a local bus in southern Slovakia, resulting in at least seven fatalities and five injuries, as confirmed by officials.
Approximately 200 passengers were on board the Eurocity train at the time of the accident, which occurred near Nove Zamky shortly after 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), according to reports from police and the Slovak railway company ZSSK.
The casualties and injuries were reported by Slovakia’s rescue service, with ZSSK stating that none of the deceased were passengers on the train.
Footage from the scene showed the train’s engine engulfed in flames, while railway authorities noted that the bus sustained significant damage and was split into two parts upon impact.
Interior Minister Matus Sutai Estok visited the crash site, mentioning that the deceased individuals had not yet been identified.
The main railway track connecting Bratislava to Budapest was closed until at least 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), forcing stranded passengers to be bussed to Sturovo on the Hungarian border, as per ZSSK.
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The bus driver survived the collision.
Those injured were taken to hospitals in nearby towns and cities, as the local hospital was closed due to flooding from heavy rain overnight.
The engine driver, a Czech national, sustained minor burns and escaped the crash, as reported by Czech Railways, the operator. The other four injured individuals were passengers on the bus.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, with authorities looking into the matter despite the presence of protective barriers at the crossing.
Slovakia’s President Peter Pellegrini, who was attending an EU summit in Brussels, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
“I wish the injured a speedy recovery and thank the doctors and rescue teams for their work done,” Mr. Pellegrini said. “I wish that such catastrophes would spare Slovakia in the future.”
