On Thursday evening, a rush-hour incident on the Beijing metro resulted in over 30 injuries as two cars detached from a train on an above-ground section, according to authorities.
Although snowstorms have affected the Chinese capital in recent days, the specific cause of the accident remained unclear.
The city’s transportation service announced on Weibo that the scene was cleared, and all the injured individuals were transported to hospitals for treatment. The agency reported over 30 injuries but stated that no fatalities occurred.
At 6:57 pm (1057 GMT), the last two cars of a metro train separated from the preceding carriages, leading to the derailment, as disclosed by authorities.
Witnesses on social media described passengers falling to the ground, some expressing back pain. Images from the incident displayed individuals on the floor, with partial lighting failures. Commuters resorted to using emergency hammers to break train windows for escape.
Videos depicted firefighters aiding an elderly rider during the evacuation, while stranded passengers navigated through deep snow to exit the area.
The accident transpired on an above-ground track near Xi’erqi Station, as the train was en route to the Changping district in the city’s northern part.
Beijing Subway, the train’s operator, issued an apology on Weibo, expressing regret for the evening’s incident. They assured passengers who left the premises unaccompanied during the evacuation and were not feeling well could contact them anytime, and the operator would cover the costs of their care.
