Beijing: Subway accident: at least 102 people injured

This is a rare case in China. At least 102 people were injured or suffered broken bones when carriages collided on an elevated section of the Beijing subway, state media reported on Friday. The Chinese capital has been hit by heavy snowfall in recent days, causing transport disruptions.

The metro incident occurred on Thursday evening at 6:57 pm (11:57 am in France), during rush hour, when two trains collided, public television CCTV reported. “In total, 515 people were taken for examination, 102 of them had fractures. No deaths were registered,” the channel reported, adding that “67 people remain in the hospital.”

A previous report from municipal authorities on Thursday evening said more than 30 people were injured. Media broadcast footage showing users lying on the ground, others remaining calm in a partially darkened carriage, and some using emergency hammers to break a window and exit the train.

Other videos show crowds of travelers trying to evacuate the scene as they walk through the snow that fell heavily on Thursday, or firefighters helping an elderly man move.

According to preliminary information, the accident occurred due to snow, which made the rails slippery and led to a deterioration in the signal and emergency braking, CCTV reported. “The train behind was on a downhill stretch, so it slipped on the tracks and was unable to brake effectively, causing it to collide with the train in front,” the channel reported.

The accident did not occur in the tunnel, but on an elevated section near the Sierzi station. He was heading towards Changping, an area located in the north of the Chinese capital. On Thursday, Beijing’s subway operator issued a “deep apology” for the accident.

Such incidents in China are relatively uncommon in metros, and in large cities they are, for the vast majority, relatively new, modern and safe.