Europe Asia News

According to the Russian emergency service, at least 7 people died when a highway bridge collapsed onto railway tracks near the border with Ukraine.

As the bridge in Bryansk collapsed, several heavy trucks fell onto a moving passenger train, and 70 people were reported injured.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that firefighting and rescue teams are working to find people who were on board the train.

Moscow Railways claimed in a statement on Telegram that the bridge collapsed due to “illegal interference in transportation activities.”

Local governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram, “Unfortunately, there are seven deaths,” and added that two people, including a child, are “seriously injured.”

He added that all injured passengers were taken to medical facilities in the Bryansk region.

Moscow’s interregional transport prosecutor’s office announced that an investigation has been launched.

Authorities stated that late Saturday night, the road bridge collapsed onto the train, causing the locomotive and several carriages to derail.

Photos on the internet show wrecked carriages and passengers being helped out of the debris in the dark.

According to Russian news agency Tass, additional emergency personnel, rescue equipment, and lighting towers for night operations were sent to the area.

Authorities said the train was traveling from the town of Klimovo to Moscow and was in the Vygonichsky district at the time of the collapse.

Moscow Railways reported that passengers were evacuated and directed to a gathering point at a nearby station, adding: “They will be able to continue their journey on a specially arranged replacement train from Bryansk to Moscow.”

The incident occurred about 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.