Russia Train Crash: 70 Injured As 9 Coaches Go Off Track in Komi

Komi: Around 70 individuals were injured after nine coaches of a passenger train 511 traveling from Vorkuta to Novorossiysk derailed on 26 June in Russia's Komi Republic. The incident took place around 6:12 PM local time. 

As per initial reports, the train, comprising 14 carriages with 232 passengers, derailed possibly due to recent intense rainfall. Emergency services have been deployed to the scene to assist passengers, with traffic on the affected section currently suspended.

Russian Railways has launched a response operation, deploying recovery trains and forming a task force led by General Director Oleg Belozerov. Furthermore, the North-Western Transport Prosecutor’s office has commenced a criminal inquiry into the train derailment.

"Emergency services have been dispatched to the scene. Measures are being taken to assist passengers,” said Russian Railways. “Information about the victims is being clarified. Traffic on the section has been suspended,” it added.

Following the incident, Vladimir Uyba, the head of the Republic of Komi, visited the site to assess the situation and oversee response efforts.

A video posted online showed passengers being hoisted through smashed windows of overturned cars before being led away from the accident. Several carriages were seen lying on their side on the edge of the railbed.

23 freight cars derailed in Komi

A similar incident happened on July 22, 2019, in Russia’s Komi Republic when 23 freight cars went off the rails.

According to investigators at about 03:00 Moscow time, 23 freight cars carrying coal on the Vorkuta-Cherepovets freight train route went off the rails near the station of Kerki due to the erosion caused by a pipe-culvert defect.

A criminal case of derailment was initiated by the Syktyvkar Investigation Department of Transport.

According to the officials, “Upon derailment of 23 freight cars in the vicinity of the Kerki station of the Northern Railway of the Sosnogorsk District of the Komi Republic, a criminal case has been initiated on grounds of a crime under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Violation of traffic safety).”