6 dead, 16 injured in train accident on bridge linking Denmark's two main islands

World 
6 dead, 16 injured in train accident on bridge linking Denmark's two main islands

Copenhagen (Agencies): At least six people were killed and 16 others were injured in a rail accident on a bridge linking Denmark’s two main islands on Wednesday.

The train heading towards the capital with 131 passengers on board when it was hit by what could have been tarpaulin, said Banedanmark, which maintains and controls traffic on the railway network.

The roof of a cargo train blew off in heavy winds and hit a passenger train that was travelling in the opposite direction.

The accident occurred on the Great Belt Bridge connecting the islands of Zealand, where Copenhagen is located, and Funen.

“There was a very, very loud bang and then the train stopped,” a witness who had been onboard the train with his daughter told broadcaster TV2.

The accident happened shortly before 7.35 a.m., police said in a statement, adding that police and emergency workers were at the scene.

Car and rail traffic on the bridge were closed for several hours due to the accident, but car traffic towards Zealand later resumed while rail traffic remained shut in both directions.