Trains Collision In
Belgium Kills Over A Dozen People
Two
commuter trains collided head-on in a Brussels suburb on Monday,
killing at least 18 people and injuring 55 in
Belgium's deadliest train wreck in decades.
Officials said train services across Western Europe were
disrupted as a result of the crash which caused severe injuries,
leading to amputations.
The Flanders provincial crisis center, in a statement, said at
least 18 people were killed.
The statement said thirty survivors remained hospitalized,
several of them in a ‘very serious’ condition.
The trains collided in light snow just outside of the station at
Buizingen around 8:30 a.m.
The impact and affected parts
The force of the collision smashed one train deep into the front
of the other, tearing back the metal sides. The trains tipped
high into the air and broke overhead power lines.
One of the front cars appeared to have careened across the
tracks, demolishing a small maintenance shed next to the rail
line. A high concrete wall around the train yard seemed to have
kept debris from hitting nearby houses.
It appeared to be the country's worst train wreck since 1954,
when a crash near Leuven killed 20 German soccer fans and
seriously injured 40 others. In March 28, 2001, eight
people died when a crowded train plowed into an empty train
driving on the wrong tracks.
Suspension of service
Belgian National Railways spokesman, Jochen Goovaerts said his
agency was awaiting the outcome of the investigation before
discussing the cause of Monday's accident.
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme canceled a trip to Kosovo,
turning around his plane minutes after landing at Pristina's
main airport.
Eurostar reported on its Web site that its high-speed trains had
suspended service in and out of Brussels and could remain shut
down all day.
The international high-speed network Thalys, which links major
cities in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands,
temporarily halted all traffic because its trains use the same
rails as commuter lines near Hal.
At least four Thalys trains were stopped en route, and the
railway operator deployed staffers to stations where they were
rerouted to provide assistance to travelers on board, she said.
AP/Yinka
