Two people are reported to be in critical condition and dozens more were injured after two fast trains collided in eastern Slovakia on Monday (October 13), officials confirmed to the Associated Press.
The crash was reported in the town of Rožňava just after 10:00 a.m. local time, according to the Slovak Railways. About 80 passengers were reported to be onboard at the time of the collision, according to police in Slovak, which didn't immediately provide additional details.
Two people were reported to be in critical condition, while the other injuries weren't believed to be serious, according to Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok. Photos from the scene of the crash showed the front part of one train's engine badly damaged while the other was derailed.
An investigation was launched into the cause of the crash, which has yet to be determined, though Šutaj Eštok suggested it could have been due to human error. Slovakia's rescue service sent multiple helicopters, fire and ambulance units to the scene and hospitals in nearby Košice and Rožňava activated trauma plans, according to RailTech.com.
The collision occurred where a double-track section narrows to a single line and replacement bus services were present, according to state operator ZSSK.
“At the moment, the priority is the rescue and evacuation of passengers and our employees,” a ZSSK spokesperson said via RailTech.com.