<p>A Ukraine-bound express train crashed head-on with a freight train in Czech Republic's Pardubice city, about 100 km east of capital Prague, late Wednesday (June 5) leaving at least four people dead and injuring dozens of others, according to an emergency spokesperson. The train was reportedly carrying more than 300 passengers, many of them foreigners.&nbsp;Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.</p>

<p>According to reports, the express train, operated by the private Regiojet company, was heading to the western Ukrainian town of Chop close to the border with Slovakia. The freight train was reportedly carrying&nbsp;calcium carbide.</p>

<p>"I can confirm that four people suffered injuries incompatible with life," local emergency spokeswoman Alena Kisiala told broadcaster Czech TV.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Odisha Tragedy: More than 230 killed, 900 injured in three-train crash in India</strong></p>

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<p>The accident had occurred shortly before 23:00 (2100 GMT) near the main train station in Pardubice, Czech TV reported.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Petr Fiala said it was "a great disaster" adding, "we all think of the victims and the injured".</p>

<p>The interior and transport ministers arrived at the site around 01:00 am Thursday (2300 GMT Wednesday).</p>

<p>Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said most of the injuries were light, and that the passengers were evacuated into the train station building.</p>

<h2><strong>Czech train crash: What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>The footage on Czech TV showed at least one of the carriages derailed and passengers were being ushered into buses near the Pardubice main station, news agency AFP reported.</p>

<p>Rescuers said that nine ambulance vans, two helicopters and more than 60 firefighters, both professional and voluntary, had been deployed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/train-crash-in-argentine-capital-leaves-30-injured-720209">Train crash in Argentine capital leaves 30 injured</a></strong></p>

<p>"The rescue work was complicated because the first carriage was deformed. That made it hard to access the injured people," firefighter Pavel Ber told reporters at the site.</p>

<p>Local fire brigade spokeswoman Vendula Horakova told Czech TV the freight train was transporting calcium carbide.</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong></h2>

<p>The main train corridor connecting Prague with the second Czech city of Brno and the third city of Ostrava would remain closed for at least several hours, local officials have said.</p>

<p>Pardubice was also the scene of the worst-ever Czech railway accident in 1960 when 118 people died and around 100 were injured in a head-on collision of two passenger trains just north of the city.</p>


A Ukraine-bound express train crashed head-on with a freight train in Czech Republic's Pardubice city, about 100 km east of capital Prague, late Wednesday (June 5) leaving at least four people dead and injuring dozens of others, according to an emergency spokesperson.

A Ukraine-bound express train crashed head-on with a freight train in Czech Republic's Pardubice city, about 100 km east of capital Prague, late Wednesday (June 5) leaving at least four people dead and injuring dozens of others, according to an emergency spokesperson. The train was reportedly carrying more than 300 passengers, many of them foreigners. Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. According to reports, the express train, operated by the private Regiojet company, was heading to the western Ukrainian town of Chop close to the border with Slovakia. The freight train was reportedly carrying calcium carbide. "I can confirm that four people suffered injuries incompatible with life," local emergency spokeswoman Alena Kisiala told broadcaster Czech TV. Also watch | Odisha Tragedy: More than 230 killed, 900 injured in three-train crash in India × The accident had occurred shortly before 23:00 (2100 GMT) near the main train station in Pardubice, Czech TV reported. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said it was "a great disaster" adding, "we all think of the victims and the injured". The interior and transport ministers arrived at the site around 01:00 am Thursday (2300 GMT Wednesday). Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said most of the injuries were light, and that the passengers were evacuated into the train station building. Czech train crash: What happened? The footage on Czech TV showed at least one of the carriages derailed and passengers were being ushered into buses near the Pardubice main station, news agency AFP reported. Rescuers said that nine ambulance vans, two helicopters and more than 60 firefighters, both professional and voluntary, had been deployed. Also read | Train crash in Argentine capital leaves 30 injured "The rescue work was complicated because the first carriage was deformed. That made it hard to access the injured people," firefighter Pavel Ber told reporters at the site. Local fire brigade spokeswoman Vendula Horakova told Czech TV the freight train was transporting calcium carbide. What next? The main train corridor connecting Prague with the second Czech city of Brno and the third city of Ostrava would remain closed for at least several hours, local officials have said. Pardubice was also the scene of the worst-ever Czech railway accident in 1960 when 118 people died and around 100 were injured in a head-on collision of two passenger trains just north of the city.

Ukraine-bound train crashes in Czech city Pardubice; 4 dead, dozens injured

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Ukraine-bound train crashes in Czech city Pardubice; 4 dead, dozens injured