Tragedy struck late Saturday in Russia’s Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border, where at least seven people lost their lives and dozens more were injured after a bridge collapsed onto a railway line, crushing a moving train beneath the debris.
The train, which was traveling from Klimovo—close to the Ukrainian border—toward the capital city of Moscow, was derailed in the incident. Authorities have not yet released detailed information about the number of passengers onboard or the extent of the injuries.
Emergency scenes shared on social media painted a grim picture: twisted metal, concrete slabs, and a buried train surrounded by frantic cries for help. Rescue teams were seen working under floodlights, pulling survivors from the rubble and navigating through a massive pile of debris that once was a functioning bridge.
“There are seven dead as a result of the collapse of a bridge onto railway tracks,” Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, confirmed in a post on Telegram.
Russian Railways, the country’s state-owned train operator, said the cause was likely due to “illegal interference,” though no further explanation was provided. Whether this points to sabotage, structural failure, or another form of human intervention remains unclear.
The collapse comes at a tense time for the region, which borders Ukraine and has seen heightened military activity and strained infrastructure in recent years.
As rescue workers continue to search the wreckage, families of passengers anxiously await updates, hoping for news of their loved ones. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those who perished or provided an official injury toll, but local hospitals are reportedly treating numerous victims.
Investigations are underway to determine what caused the catastrophic collapse, with officials promising a thorough review. Meanwhile, the community in Bryansk—and many across the country—are left mourning lives lost in what should have been an ordinary journey home.