A train accident in China’s southwestern city of Kunming killed 11 railway workers and injured two others on Thursday, marking the country’s deadliest rail incident in more than a decade. Officials said the train was conducting equipment tests when it struck the group on a curved stretch of track.
Workers Hit During Equipment Testing
According to local authorities, the train was testing earthquake detection systems at Luoyang Town railway station in Yunnan province when the collision occurred. The victims were working on the tracks at the time of the crash.
Officials confirmed that normal train services have since resumed and that a formal investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident.
China’s Rail Safety Record Under Scrutiny
China operates the world’s largest rail network, covering over 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) and handling billions of passenger journeys every year. While the system is often praised for its efficiency and speed, it has faced criticism after a series of serious accidents.
In 2011, a high-speed train crash in Zhejiang province killed 40 people and injured nearly 200, sparking widespread public outrage and calls for improved safety measures. More recently, in 2021, nine workers died when a train struck maintenance staff along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway in Gansu province.
Investigation Underway
The Kunming tragedy has once again highlighted ongoing concerns about worker safety on China’s railways. Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation to identify any safety lapses or procedural failures that led to Thursday’s incident.
(with inputs from Reuters)
