Number of injured rises to 21 in Hungarian train collision

The number of people who needed hospitalization after sustaining injuries in Sunday morning's train collision has risen to 21, latest information showed.

Fortunately, however, according to the National Ambulance and Emergency Service, only two of the injured people suffered bone fracture.

Two trains collided near the Galgaguta train station, roughly 65 km northeast of Budapest, according to an official report issued by Hungarian State Railways (MAV).

MAV spokesperson Virag Locsei told M1 public television that a scheduling change was the likely the cause of the accident in which both trains were running on a single track.

The station where one train generally waits for the other to pass was changed, and the engineer of the train that should have stopped failed to wait at the altered meeting point.

MAV confirmed that the two commuter trains were traveling in opposite directions and had collided at comparatively low speeds of 20 km per hour. Neither was derailed but passengers were hurtled about by the impact.

There were about 30-40 passengers aboard the two trains, 21 of whom were injured, including one of the engineers. There were no fatalities.

MAV and the police are continuing their investigation into the accident to determine why the train failed to stop. Enditem