Russia
Moscow subway train derails, killing 20
MOSCOW : A rush-hour subway train derailed yesterday in Moscow, killing at least 20 people and hospitalising at least 150 others, many with serious injuries, Russian emergency officials said.
Several cars went off the track in the tunnel after a power surge triggered an alarm, which caused the train to stop abruptly.
Russia Emergency Situations Ministry Vladimir Puchkov gave the casualty toll all at a televised news conference. At least 50 of the injured are in grave condition , the Itar-TASS news agency said, quoting, Moscow health department chief Georgy Golukhov.
Mr.Golukhov told Russian television that only one person is still trapped in a wrecked train car but said he is still alive. Emergency services at the scene, however, speculated there could be more trapped commuters. It was not possible to immediately reconcile the reports.
The Russian capital’s airports and transit systems have been hit by several terrorist attacks over the past two decades but officials said yesterday this appeared to be an accident. Mr Puchkov said terrorism is not being considered as a possible cause.
Yuri Akimov, a Moscow spokesman for the emergency services, said out services, said outside the station that about 200 people were evacuated from the train, which was stuck between two stations.
A man with a bloody cut on his brow told Rossiya 24 television outside the Park Pobedy station that he felt a jolt and the train abruptly came to a halt.
“There was smoke and we were trapped inside,” he said. “Il’s a miracle we got out. I though it was the end”.
At 48m underground, Park Pobedy is the deepest metro station in Moscow’s subway system, which made the rescue particularly hard.
The Moscow Metro is one of the most famous subway systems in the world, known for its palatial interiors.
While accidents are regular occurrences in the metro, deadly incidents are rare.
Paramedics treat passengers injured as several subway cars derailed in Moscow yesterday. At least 150 have been injured and 20 killed by the derailment in tunnel between Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bulvar stations, in western Moscow,Russian media reported yesterday. AFP