FIREFIGHTERS IN AND AROUND BRUSSELLS, BELGIUM, are working a messy mass-casualty incident this morning following a head-on crash of two loaded commuter trains.
The accident happened near a station where one of the trains went through a stop signal, approached the other on the same track, and they collided at speed head-on without ever applying the brakes. The tumbling rail cars struck a third train on the next track that was stopped at the station causing further damage and injury.
The latest casualty count has 25 dead and more than 150 injured, but both totals are expected to continue to rise throughout the day as rescue and extrication operations are carried out. AFP is reporting that several surgeons are on the scene performing amputations on-site to free victims from the wreckage.
The two trains hit each other near the town of Halle, about nine miles southwest of Brussels.
The London Times has a recent report and a video HERE.
Firegeezer will be updating the report during the day after confirmed information becomes available.
Also on FireGeezer…
- More Than 600 Casualties in Train Crash – 49 Dead – February 22, 2012
