Authorities said that a passenger train carrying about 60 people derailed and caught fire after colliding with construction equipment in the southern Netherlands early Tuesday, killing one person and injuring dozens more.
The accident happened around 3:25 a.m. (0125 GMT) near the town of Voorschoten, between The Hague and Amsterdam. The train hit a crane that was on the tracks, causing the front carriage to plough into a field and the second carriage to land on its side. A third carriage remained upright, while a fourth burst into flames.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and treated at least 30 people for injuries. Some of the seriously injured were taken to hospital, while others were sheltered at nearby residents’ homes. A trauma helicopter was also deployed to assist the rescue operation.
“We heard a loud bang and suddenly the lights went out,” an unidentified witness told the local Omroep West television news. “We couldn’t initially get out of the train because there was no electricity.”
Dutch Railways said that trains between Leiden and parts of The Hague were canceled due to the collision and advised passengers to seek alternative routes.
The cause of the accident is under investigation. Authorities said they were working to secure the train and remove the wreckage from the tracks.
