At least six people are dead and five more are injured after a bus collided with a train in southern Slovakia.
Police said the accident took place shortly after 5pm local time in the town of Nove Zamky.
Video footage of the incident shows thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as passengers walk on the tracks and the train’s engine goes up in flames.
The deaths and injuries were confirmed by Slovakia’s rescue service, who say more injuries are likely.
Interior minister Matus Sutai Estok was heading to the site of the crash, police said.
In a statement, the minister said: ‘It was with sadness that I received the news about the tragic collision between a train and a bus near Nové Zámky. My sincere condolences to the bereaved. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.’
Slovakia’s president Peter Pellegrini also responded to the tragic accident, and said: ‘I am very sorry for all the victims and express my sincere condolences to their families.
‘I wish the injured a speedy recovery and thank the doctors and rescue teams for their work. May such disasters be avoided in Slovakia in the future.’
The identities and nationalities of the victims have not yet been revealed.
Those injured in the crash were transported to hospitals in nearby towns and cities because the local one was closed Thursday after some parts of it were flooded after a heavy rain overnight.
The driver of the engine, a Czech national, escaped with light burns, said the Czech Railways, its owner. The other four injured people were travelers aboard the train.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and authorities were investigating. The crossing is protected by gates.
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