POLAND: At least 14 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided head-on in southern Poland in one of the country's worst train crashes in more than 20 years (RTV)
Record ID:
382764
POLAND: At least 14 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided head-on in southern Poland in one of the country's worst train crashes in more than 20 years (RTV)
- Title: POLAND: At least 14 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided head-on in southern Poland in one of the country's worst train crashes in more than 20 years (RTV)
- Date: 5th March 2012
- Summary: SZCZEKOCINY, POLAND (MARCH 4, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE CRASH SITE WRECKAGE RESCUE WORKERS AMBULANCES RESCUE WORKERS WALKING ALONG HELICOPTER WIDE OF CRASH SITE WRECKAGE AND RESCUE WORKERS PRIME MINISTER TUSK WALKING ALONG WITH RESCUE WORKERS WIDE OF MEDIA STANDING AROUND TUSK (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK, SAYING: "We all deeply sympathise with the victims, especially their loved ones and families of those who died in this catastrophe. As always the authorities will try to provide any assistance necessary to the victims and their families." TRAIN CARRIAGE MEDIA AND RESCUE WORKERS AMBULANCE RESCUE WORKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FIRE BRIGADES SPOKESPERSON JAROSLAW WOJTASIK, SAYING: "First of all, the fire brigades had trouble reaching the site in the first moments of the rescue operation, because the cars couldn't drive there. We needed to leave them some distance away and walk to the wounded, carrying all necessary equipment, including the hydraulic gear. Afterwards, the victims were transported to the ambulances which also needed to stay some distance away." EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES
- Embargoed: 20th March 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Poland, Poland
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Accidents,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA10FZSZ4G82Q99XEBLDGZ1LZVX
- Story Text: At least 14 people were killed when two passenger trains collided head-on in southern Poland late on Saturday (March 3) in one of the country's worst train crashes in more than 20 years.
The two trains carrying an estimated 350 passengers were heading in opposite directions on the same track when they crashed at high speed in a rural area near the town of Szczechociny.
At least 54 people were injured.
One of the green-and-cream coloured carriages of an intercity train travelling to Warsaw had jack-knifed upwards from the force of the crash.
Other cars had derailed and were lying on their sides.
"We all deeply sympathise with the victims, especially their loved ones and families of those who died in this catastrophe. As always the authorities will try to provide any assistance necessary to the victims and their families," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who arrived at the site of the crash with several other government officials early on Sunday (March 4).
The fate of the two drivers was not immediately known as the authorities were still identifying the dead bodies More than 350 fire-fighters rushed to the scene, but had to carry their equipment by hand because the trains collided in the middle of a field crossed only by the train tracks.
"First of all, the fire brigades had trouble reaching the site in the first moments of the rescue operation, because the cars couldn't drive there," said Polish fire brigades spokesman Jaroslaw Wojtasik. "We needed to leave them some distance away and walk to the wounded, carrying all necessary equipment, including the hydraulic gear. Afterwards, the victims were transported to the ambulances which also needed to stay some distance away."
The injured were transported to nearby hospitals. Among the passengers were several Ukrainians along with French and Spanish citizens, but none of them were hospitalised.
One of the trains had been going from Warsaw from to the town of Krakow and the other from the Polish capital to the town of Przemysl. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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