A high-speed Western Express Service train connecting Prague and Munich crashed near the Czech-German border, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more.
The express train from Munich to Prague, according to the Czech transport minister, ran through a stop signal and collided with a commuter train bound for the town of Domazlice.
However, authorities said it was unclear whether this was due to driver error or a technical glitch.
According to the BBC, both drivers and one female passenger were killed.
As the tragedy unfolded shortly after 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, rescue teams, helicopters, and ambulances were dispatched to the scene near Milavce, close to the border with Germany.
Social media footage showed crushed carriages and debris strewn across the tracks.
Czech Republic:Two people died and dozens more were injured, The Munich to Prague train number Ex 351 collided with a regional service between the Czech towns of Plzen and Domazlice. pic.twitter.com/jfLRubYKKe
— handsm (@handsm54350947) August 4, 2021
The Czech Republic’s railway inspectorate has begun an investigation into the accident.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek, one of the trains failed to stop at a signal and collided with another.
