Train collision in Chile kills at least 2 people and injures 9 others
At least two rail workers were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a freight train collided head-on with a test train near the capital of Chile, Santiago. This rare and fatal crash is under investigation by local authorities.
The collision occurred in San Bernardo, a district just south of Santiago, and left the test train car sitting fully atop the freight train. Police have detained the driver of the test train and a railway operator for interrogation on charges of reckless manslaughter.
Photos and videos from the scene reveal a chaotic aftermath, with one carriage jackknifed several meters into the air above the mangled cargo train. Emergency vehicles and helicopters swarmed the site to aid in rescue and recovery efforts. Train services in Santiago were suspended following the crash.
The eight-car freight train, carrying 1,346 tons of copper—Chile’s main export—had some crew members on board. The test train had 10 workers conducting a speed test, according to the state rail company. Security camera footage showed both trains traveling at high speeds when the collision occurred, and it remains unclear why the test train was not alerted to the freight train's approach.
"We have to identify what the causes are and take the corresponding measures," Transportation Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz told The Associated Press. The two people killed were crew members on the freight train. Among the nine injured, six remain hospitalized, including one in intensive care. Four of the injured are Chinese nationals who were operating the test train.
Chile has recently experienced heavy rains causing floods and displacing thousands. However, these conditions did not appear to have contributed to the collision. Train crashes are rare in Chile, especially after safety improvements were made following a deadly collision in 2001.
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