Russia: Passenger Train Derailment In Country's Far North Injures Over 70 People

A passenger train derailed in Russia’s far northern Komi region on Wednesday, overturning carriages next to the railbed and injuring at least 70 passengers.

Russian media reported that nine cars from a passenger train, which had 232 passengers onboard, went off the tracks in the Komi Republic. Train 511 was traveling between Vorkuta in northeastern Komi, above the Arctic Circle, and the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Russian state TV network reported.

The derailment occurred around 6:12 pm Moscow time near the town of Inta.  “Emergency services have been dispatched to the scene. Measures are being taken to assist passengers,” Russian Railways said on Telegram. “Information about the victims is being clarified. Traffic on the section has been suspended.”

The cause of the derailment may have been recent heavy rainfall, according to Russian Railways. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s primary investigating authority, stated through Russian news agencies that no deaths had occurred in the incident outside the town of Inta.

News agencies quoted police and emergency services as saying injuries included fractures, bruises, cuts, and head trauma. Video posted online showed passengers being lifted through smashed windows of overturned cars before being led away from the accident. Several carriages were seen lying on their sides on the edge of the railbed.

Russian news agencies reported that two auxiliary trains and investigators had been dispatched to help evacuate passengers from the area, largely consisting of forest and swamp. Officials were assessing the safety standards of the affected rail line. Russian State Railways, quoted by the news agencies, confirmed traffic had been suspended on the line.

(With agency inputs)