Train collision in Slovakia leaves 7 dead and 5 injured

In a tragic incident near the town of Nove Zamky in southern Slovakia, a collision between a train traveling from Prague to Budapest and a local bus resulted in at least seven fatalities and five injuries. The Eurocity train, carrying around 200 passengers, crashed with the bus, leading to a devastating outcome. The Slovak rescue service confirmed the casualties, with none of the deceased individuals being on the train itself. Video footage revealed the train's engine engulfed in flames, while the bus suffered severe damage, splitting into two parts. Following the accident, Interior Minister Matus Sutai Estok visited the scene to assess the situation. The stranded train passengers were evacuated to Sturovo on the Hungarian border via buses, as the major train track connecting Bratislava and Budapest remained closed for several hours. The injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals due to the closure of the local hospital, which was affected by flooding from heavy rain. The driver of the train, a Czech national, sustained minor burns, while the other injured parties were passengers on the bus. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collision, which occurred at a protected crossing with gates. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who was away in Brussels for an EU summit, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to the injured. As the nation mourns the loss and grapples with the aftermath of the tragic event, efforts are underway to determine the circumstances leading to the fatal accident and prevent similar incidents in the future.