Bridge Collapses and Train Derailments Rock Russia's Kursk and Bryansk Regions
Seven fatalities reported following the collapse of two bridges and a train derailment incident in Russia. - Multiple Tragedies in Russia: Seven Lives Lost Following Bridge Collapses and Train Derailment, Overseen by the Governors
On a chilly Sunday, two bridges crumbled in the districts of Schelesnogorsk, leaving chaos in their wake. The governors of Kursk and Brjansk confirmed the unfortunate incident via Telegram.
According to Alexander Chinschtein, the governor of Kursk, a massive freight locomotive was passing over a bridge when the disaster struck, sending part of the train plummeting onto the road below. The inferno that ensued added to the mayhem. The driver(s) involved in this harrowing event were immediately rushed to the hospital with injuries.
The Governor of Brjansk, Alexander Bogomas, shared that the hospitals were treating the injured victims, including three young souls, following the bridge collapse.
The Moscow Railway Company revealed that the passenger train was cruising on the Klimow-Moscow route when the tragedy befell due to an illegal intervention in the transportation operations, leading to the derailing of the locomotive and carriages. The incident unfolded between Pilshino and Vygonichi stations in the Bryansk region at 22:44 local time (21:44 CEST), as per the railway company’s Telegram update. The rest of the train traffic remained unscathed.
The horror of the incident could be seen in the online videos showing rescue workers grappling with a mountain of debris, including what appeared to be a buried Russian Railways train. Another video depicted civilians desperately calling for help as they rushed to the rescue.
The aftermath of the collapse, located about 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, prompted an inquiry by the prosecutor’s office. Initial investigations failed to shed light on the specifics of the incident or the meaning behind the railway operator’s "illegal interference."
Historically, Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of sabotaging train lines since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022, owing to the railway's role in the transportation of troops and weapons for Ukraine's forces. The planned meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Istanbul and the diplomatic efforts by the US government to put an end to the three-year conflict are happening just days before this latest incident.
Words to Watch: Collapse, Kursk, Brjansk, Train Derailment, Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Children, Transport, Ukraine
Insights
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the bridge collapses and train derailments in Russia. Preliminary reports suggest the involvement of illegal interference and sabotage, with Russia blaming Ukraine for the incidents, an allegation not yet addressed by Ukraine. The incidents occurred in the context of ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with military journalist Alexander Sladkov speculating that Ukraine may face potential retaliation amidst peace talks in Istanbul.
The Commission, in light of the recent bridge collapses and train derailments in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, could potentially consider initiating a procedure for the adoption of a proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, given the general-news and crime-and-justice implications of this unfortunate series of events. As the investigations into these incidents continue, the political landscape remains tense, with the planned meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Istanbul just days away, making the possibility of further escalation a matter of concern in the world of politics and crime-and-justice.
