Two in critical condition
69 injured after two trains collide in eastern Slovakia
Published on 13-10-2025 at 12:25
Two trains collided near a remote village in eastern Slovakia on Monday morning. Slovak Police, Košice Region
Two express trains collided in eastern Slovakia on Monday morning, derailing part of one train and leaving 69 people injured, of which 7 in critical condition. Prime Minister Robert Fico has ordered a full investigation, with officials saying the crash was likely caused by human error.
69 people were injured when
two trains collided in eastern
Slovakia on Monday, derailing a locomotive and carriage, according to the country’s emergency services and local media. The crash occurred near the village of Jablonov nad Turnou, about 55 kilometres west of Košice, the main city in the region.
Police
footage posted on Facebook showed a scene of heavy damage, with the trains lying off the tracks on a hillside while paramedics tended to passengers nearby. Around 80–100 passengers were believed to be on board the two trains, identified by broadcaster TV Markíza as the R 913 and R 914 ‘Gemeran’ services running between Zvolen and Košice.
Between 80-100 people are thought to have been on the train. © Slovak Police, Košice Region
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok
said two passengers were in critical condition and three others remained trapped inside the wreckage. “According to preliminary information, this is an extraordinary traffic accident that probably occurred due to human error,” he said at a press briefing, stating that one of the train drivers may have failed to yield.
Both Eštok and Transport Minister Jozef Ráž travelled to the site, while Prime Minister Robert Fico has called for a full investigation before drawing any conclusions. “A thorough investigation must clarify the causes of this tragedy,” Fico said.
Rescue operation in remote Slovakia
An investigation has been launched into the accident. © Slovak Police, Košice Region
Slovakia’s rescue service dispatched multiple helicopters and fire and ambulance units to the scene. Nearby hospitals in Košice and Rožňava activated trauma plans as part of the emergency response. The collision occurred just before a tunnel entrance, complicating access for emergency teams.
State operator ZSSK confirmed the trains collided where a double-track section narrows to a single line and said replacement bus services had been organised. “At the moment, the priority is the rescue and evacuation of passengers and our employees,” a company spokesperson said.
Article last updated on 16 October
