One dead, dozens injured after train derails in Netherlands

Some of the injured were being treated on the spot and others were being taken to hospital, the emergency services said. (Photo: Reuters)

At least one person was killed, and 30 others were injured after a train carrying at least 50 passengers derailed in the Netherlands after striking construction equipment on the track, according to Dutch emergency services.

Emergency services said that rescue crews were dispatched to the accident site in Voorschoten, a village near The Hague, shortly after the accident occurred early Tuesday morning.

Some of the injured were treated on-site, while others were transported to a hospital, according to emergency services.

The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) when a double-decker intercity train collided with construction materials on the rails at Voorschoten, about eight kilometres (five miles) north of The Hague.

Pictures from the scene and press sources depicted a derailed front carriage ploughing into a field and a second derailed carriage landing on its side.

A fourth carriage caught fire, while a third stayed upright, according to the ANP news agency.

According to earlier reports, the passenger train collided with a freight train.

Due to the accident, Netherlands Railways (NS) tweeted that trains between Leiden and portions of The Hague were cancelled.

An unidentified witness on local Omroep West television news reported, "We heard a loud bang, and suddenly the lights went out,"

"We couldn't initially get out of the train because there was no electricity," the man said, looking shocked.

Publish : 2023-04-04 11:49:00

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