On Thursday morning, a serious accident occurred in the northern part of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, involving a head-on collision between two regional trains. According to the emergency rescue department, this incident has resulted in at least 17 injuries, with 4 of them being severely injured and currently in critical condition.
The accident reportedly took place around 6:30 am local time between Hillerød and Kagerup, approximately 35 kilometers north of Copenhagen, according to reports from international media.
During the peak commuting hours, Trine Egetved, the Mayor of Gribskov, stated that the railway line where the accident occurred is an important transportation artery relied upon by many local residents, commuters, and students.
Upon receiving the report, the police immediately classified the incident as a “major accident” and mobilized a large number of officers and search and rescue teams to rush to the scene.
Footage from the scene shows two trains of yellow and gray colors colliding head-on in a forested area, with the front ends of the trains suffering severe damage, but fortunately, the train cars did not overturn.
A spokesperson for the Copenhagen Fire Department said, “It was a head-on collision between two regional trains.”
The spokesperson then added, “Some passengers were injured. Everyone has been evacuated from the train, and no one is trapped at the scene… We have dispatched a large number of personnel and equipment to the site.”
The injured have been urgently transported away from the accident site for treatment by multiple ambulances and helicopters, as mentioned by the fire department.
Denmark has always prided itself on having a safe transportation system, but this incident has once again raised concerns about railway safety.
In 2019, Denmark experienced a serious train accident that resulted in the deaths of 8 people. Last August, a train collided with a vehicle in southern Denmark, causing a derailment and resulting in one death and 27 injuries.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific cause of the collision, and further investigation is currently underway.