Fatal train crash

An express inter-city train derailed in central Poland on Friday, but the reason for the accident remained unclear. At least one person was killed in the crash, though initial reports suggested four people had died, and a further 56 were hospitalized with injuries.

"We have confirmation that one person has perished," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Poland's TVN24 news channel after visiting the scene late on Friday, as rescue efforts continued.

"Luckily the death toll is not as high as we initially thought. We hope that no more victims will be found in the wagon where the casualty was discovered."

The lead carriage flipped onto its side and was badly damaged. A witness said almost everyone in the car sustained injuries. Three further wagons were also derailed but were not as heavily damaged. Polish police have warned that there could be more fatalities within the debris.

Mysterious accident

The cause of the crash was not clear late on Friday night; railway authorities said the tracks were in working order, while police said the train's driver had tested sober after the incident.

Some 280 people were on board the train from Warsaw to the southern city of Katowice at the start of a three-day Catholic holiday weekend. The derailment took place near Piotrkow Trybunalski.

"We heard a huge noise. The first wagon was completely destroyed, windows smashed and its sides smashed. People remained calm - many were in shock - and rescue crews arrived rapidly," passenger Marcin Chlebowski said on the TVN24 news channel.

Poland is seeking to modernize its public transport infrastructure as the country prepares to co-host the Euro 2012 soccer tournament with Ukraine next summer.

Author: Mark Hallam (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Sarah Harman