Twenty people died and scores more were hurt after a train derailed in Moscow's packed metro during rush hour on Tuesday in the worst accident to hit one of the world's busiest subways.
Russian television described scenes of chaos and panic on the capital city's famed system, saying passengers fell like dominoes when the train braked abruptly and three carriages derailed.
President Vladimir Putin, who is currently on a trip to Brazil, was informed of the tragedy that put a huge strain on the city of some 12 million and snarled traffic on its notoriously clogged roads amid a heatwave.
Sirens wailed as dozens of ambulances rushed to help treat the wounded and helicopters buzzed overhead to evacuate those with the most serious injuries, AFP journalists said at the scene outside the deep Park Pobedy metro station in western Moscow.
Nineteen people perished at the scene and another passenger died of her injuries in hospital, a health ministry spokesman said in televised remarks, adding that nearly 130 people were hospitalised.
'Only a miracle'
Rescue teams were working to free about five people believed to be stuck in a train underground, Moscow deputy mayor Pyotr Biryukov told journalists at the scene.
"There are those who've been trapped, they are showing signs of life," he said.
Around half of those who were hospitalised were in a serious condition, authorities said.
"I thought it was the end," one passenger said on television. "We were trapped and only got out through a miracle.
"There were lots of injured. Various injuries: heads, legs."
Passengers said smoke quickly spread through the carriages and rescue workers treated them with oxygen.
The accident took place as temperatures outside soared to 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit).
Authorities said it would take 24 hours to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
As news of the crash spread, the hashtag #metro quickly become one of the most popular on Twitter in Russia.
Alexei Naryshkin, a presenter on the popular Echo of Moscow radio station, posted a photograph on Twitter of rescue workers carrying a body in a black bag.
"They are laying out the injured. They constantly go down with stretchers. They carry them out. Some are unconscious. Some are moaning with pain," Naryshkin wrote.
'Panic erupted'
Another witness, a young man in a polo shirt, said on television: "I got into the carriage and after about 20 seconds, the light went out and the train was just pulled apart. I was just thrown into the centre of the carriage."
"Panic erupted," he told Life News television.
"We climbed out of the carriages and we saw a blockage, men took hammers and pliers and broke it down and we walked on. The train was smashed, the chassis was just pulled apart."
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin rushed to the scene and pledged to do everything possible to help the victims.
"What happened is one of the most major accidents of recent times," he said.
Television footage showed rescue workers carrying bloodied passengers away on stretchers, while paramedics treated some on nearby grass verges.
Sobbing people, some with bandages around their heads, were shown seated on chairs outside the metro.
Citing preliminary information, the Investigative Committee said the accident happened due to a train braking abruptly because of a false alarm triggered by a supply voltage dip.
A probe has been opened into the accident, the committee's representative, Roman Syomushkin, told reporters.
"This is the most serious man-made disaster in the Moscow underground in its entire history," infrastructure expert Alexei Khazbiyev told AFP.
"It is the most serious accident apart from terrorist attacks."
He slammed authorities for not doing enough to modernise the overcrowded metro system, stressing it could not cope with the current passenger traffic.
"We are paying for poor-quality and dangerous services," he said.
Opened under Stalin in 1935, Moscow's ornate metro is considered one of the world's busiest and carries some nine million people every day.
The train derailed between Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Boulevard metro stations on the blue line.
Moscow's deepest station, Park Pobedy opened 2003, while Slavyansky Boulevard opened five years later.
In the last serious accident on the Moscow metro in 1982, eight people died when an escalator broke down.
AFP
Tue Jul 15 2014
![20 dead, scores injured in Moscow metro crash 20 dead, scores injured in Moscow metro crash](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-07/61405411174_295x200.jpg)
Three people died and dozens were injured after a train derailed in the Moscow metro - AFPpic
![Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721123744_tokandadah.jpg)
Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar
Polis menahan dua lelaki dan merampas dua pucuk pistol serta pelbagai jenis dadah dalam dua tangkapan di Taman Lam Foong, di Alor Setar.
![Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719354914_Destroyedbuildings.jpg)
Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB
Beliau berkata tahap pertempuran dan kemusnahan yang melampau di Gaza tidak dapat difahami dan tidak boleh dimaafkan.
![Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721121786_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary.
![Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81712376317_TujuanForensik.jpg)
Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas
Gen HNF4A (Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha) didapati akan berhenti berfungsi pada tubuh pesakit kanser pankreas.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Potensi dan cabaran percambahan e-Sukan di Malaysia
Pengerusi Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) Negeri Selangor
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
Jualan kereta di Malaysia diunjur cecah 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) melakukan semakan semula berkaitan sasaran jumlah keseluruhan industri (TIV) kepada 765,000 unit berbanding unjuran awal 740,000 unit untuk 2024. Semakan dibuat disokong oleh persekitaran ekonomi yang positif dan jumlah tempatan tertunggak yang masih berada pada tahap yang baik
Kementerian Digital cari kaedah kurangkan kos pelaksanaan sistem e-invois
Kerajaan sedang mencari kaedah mengurangkan kos pelaksanaan sistem e-invois untuk Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) selepas sistem itu diwajibkan untuk semua perniagaan pada 1 Julai 2025
Perbelanjaan pengguna dijangka meningkat tahun ini
Perbelanjaan Pengguna Malaysia dijangka meningkat sepanjang tahun ini
dengan unjuran sebanyak RM904.6 bilion, ketika proses pemulihan ekonomi menunjukkan kemajuan pada ketika ini.
dengan unjuran sebanyak RM904.6 bilion, ketika proses pemulihan ekonomi menunjukkan kemajuan pada ketika ini.
![Suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini dibawa ke lokasi kejadian Suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini dibawa ke lokasi kejadian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721123609_lokasi.jpg)
Suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini dibawa ke lokasi kejadian
Suspek kes pembunuhan Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah dibawa ke lokasi kejadian di ladang kelapa sawit di Kampung Sri Keledang, Hulu Bernam, Selangor.
Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat, bagi memperketatkan undang-undang berkaitan buli siber.