16 killed in Russia as train hits bus

At least 16 people were killed when a train hit a bus that had broken down on a railway crossing east of Moscow, authorities said.

The victims were all on board the bus at the time of the collision in the Vladimir region, Russian authorities said. No train passengers were injured.

“The bus stalled on the track,” Vladimir Myagkov, a spokesman for Russian Railways, told Rossiya 24.

“Some people say the passengers tried to push the bus off the track. At that moment the train approached and a collision occurred.”

 

The collision happened at 3.29am local time near the city of Vladimir, which is around 110km east of Moscow.

The train, which was carrying migrant workers from Uzbekistan, was travelling from St Petersburg to Nijini-Novgorod when it hit the bus.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement: “According to preliminary information, 16 people, including a child, have been killed.”

The statement revised downwards a death toll of 19 that had been given earlier by the head of the regional health service earlier.

It added: “Other passengers, including minors, have been taken to hospital with various injuries. The number of dead and injured is being ascertained.”

 

The two bus drivers were from the neighbouring country of Kazakhstan, the country’s foreign ministry said.

It also said that 55 people from Uzbekistan were on the bus.

Bus accidents are not unusual in Russia. In August 17 people were killed when a bus veered off a pier into the Black Sea.Skynews