Two trains collided in western Slovakia on Sunday, resulting in 11 individuals sustaining serious injuries, as reported by officials. The incident occurred near Pezinok, a town in the Bratislava region, with Train Tatran 620 en route from Kosice to Bratislava crashing into REX 1814 heading from Nitra to the capital. It was revealed that one of the trains disregarded a red signal and rear-ended the other.
A spokesperson for University Hospital Bratislava mentioned hours after the collision that two patients were currently undergoing surgery, anticipating an increase in the number of individuals requiring surgical procedures.
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok confirmed that 11 individuals were severely injured and hospitalized, while several others sustained minor injuries. Approximately 800 passengers, predominantly students, were onboard the two trains during the collision.
Both train operators tested negative for alcohol and drugs, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Bratislava regional police. Ivan Bednarok, the head of Slovak railway service ZSR, described the incident as exceptional, attributing it to one train being in an unauthorized location and running a red signal, leading to the collision with the second express train at a speed exceeding 100 km/h.
Emergency responders, including over 70 firefighters and 60 police officers, quickly arrived at the scene. Evacuation buses from the Prison and Judicial Guard Corps were deployed to transport passengers to safety.
A passenger recounted the experience to Slovak outlet Aktuality.sk, detailing the sudden stop and impact during the journey from Piestany to Bratislava.
Prime Minister Robert Fico addressed the incident on Facebook, emphasizing support for the injured and discouraging the spread of speculations or animosity. He mentioned coordinating with relevant government officials and expressed wishes for a prompt recovery for the injured. An extraordinary government meeting is scheduled for Monday at 9:00 am.
State-owned rail operator ZSSK stated that emergency services were actively responding to the accident scene, with ongoing collaboration among ZSSK, state-run railway-infrastructure operator ZSR, police, and emergency services. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with updates expected as the inquiry progresses.
Train operations in the region experienced disruptions, with ZSSK cautioning travelers about significant delays along the affected route. This incident follows a recent train collision on October 13 in eastern Slovakia, where 91 individuals were injured, some critically.
