Massive Injuries Reported as Beijing Metro Train Collides, Prompting Hospitalizations
Amidst snowy conditions, a major collision between two trains on a bustling Beijing metro line left hundreds of commuters injured, with dozens suffering from fractures Prompt medical assistance was provided as the city's transportation authority swiftly responded to the incident
During snowy conditions in Beijing, hundreds of commuters, including dozens with fractured bones, were hospitalized after two trains collided on a bustling metro line, the city's transportation authority reported. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. during rush hour on the Changping subway line, which extends to the northwest of the Chinese capital. A preliminary investigation revealed that the collision was caused by a malfunction related to signal and emergency braking due to the weather conditions, as stated by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport on Friday.
A train made an emergency stop on slippery snow-covered tracks, leading to a collision with another train that was unable to brake effectively due to the snowy weather. A total of 515 people were taken to the hospital for examination, with 102 of them found to have fractures. Fortunately, no deaths were reported in the incident.
By 6 a.m. on Friday, 423 individuals had been discharged from the hospital, as reported in the statement.
The city's subway operator released a statement on Thursday evening, citing initial information that two end carriages had separated from a train, resulting in injuries to passengers.
Witnesses' videos circulating on social media showed what appeared to be separated train cars. One passenger exclaimed in one video, "The subway train I took broke into two parts!" The incident occurred on an above-ground section of the subway, which usually sees nearly 400,000 passenger trips on a weekday, as reported by state media.
Beijing Transport expressed regret for the incident and promised to conduct a thorough investigation and implement any needed solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future. The collision took place amid a cold snap and snowfall in Beijing and northern China, which has caused disruptions to transportation and led to school closures since Wednesday.
The city was under an orange alert for heavy snow and a yellow alert for icy roads on Thursday evening.
China's weather warning system consists of four tiers, with red being the most severe alert, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.
CNNs Martha Zhou and Nectar Gan contributed reporting.
