Tragedy Strikes Russia as Bridge Collapses Claim Seven Lives
A devastating incident has unfolded in Russia’s Bryansk region, where a powerful blast led to the collapse of a road bridge onto a railway line, resulting in the derailment of a passenger train headed to Moscow.
The collapse claimed the lives of seven people and left numerous others injured.
According to Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, at least 71 people were injured in the disaster, with 44 receiving medical attention in the hospital.
The incident occurred late on Saturday, with rescuers rushing to the scene to provide assistance.
In a separate incident, a rail bridge in the neighboring Kursk region was targeted in an explosion, causing a freight train to derail and injuring the driver. Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that the bridge collapsed onto a road, with the train crew being taken to the hospital for treatment.
Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incidents, with the Investigative Committee classifying them as “acts of terrorism.”
However, no immediate comment was made regarding the perpetrators behind the blasts.
Senior ruling party lawmaker Andrey Klishas pointed fingers at Ukraine, describing it as a “terrorist enclave.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the matter.
The incidents have sparked concerns about the safety of Russia’s transportation infrastructure, particularly its railroad network, which has been targeted in numerous sabotage attacks since the conflict with Ukraine began in 2022.
Kyiv has accused Russia of using its railroads to transport troops and weaponry to its forces fighting in Ukraine.
As the investigation continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the incidents, and emergency services are working to repair the damaged infrastructure.
The tragic events have also raised concerns about the upcoming meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, which aims to find a resolution to the three-year-long conflict that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and Russia’s occupation of around a fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Relatives of the affected passengers have been waiting anxiously for news, with some gathering at a station in central Moscow.
Sergey Trinkinets, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, was among those waiting, having finally received word from his father, who was on the affected train.
“My dad finally got in touch. He said he had some bruises and wasn’t feeling very well, so I came to meet him,” Trinkinets said.
