Terrible passenger train crash in the Czech Republic: Hospitals overwhelmed with the injured

The accident occurred in a region about 132 kilometers south of Prague, and all passengers from both trains were evacuated and taken to a nearby hospital, Reuters reported.

A spokeswoman for the regional hospital confirmed that five people were treated for serious injuries.

According to some Czech media reports, the accident likely occurred when the express train ran through a red signal.

Chief Railway Inspector Jan Kučera told Czech Television that the track in southern Czechia, where the trains collided, is not equipped with the ETCS safety system, while the police stated that alcohol tests ruled out intoxication for both drivers.

According to reports, in terms of the number of injuries, the accident is one of the most serious in the past five years.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka stated that the cause of the accident is still under investigation, but preliminary data indicate that one of the trains likely passed a signal set to stop.