Moscow subway train derailment: First car smashed, at least 16 killed

A bright flash occurred in the tunnel of the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line of the Moscow subway prior to when the train derailed.

Photo: AP photo

"I was in the second car. I got into the train, and after 15-20 seconds, a sharp deceleration occurred, the light went off. The train derailed, and I got jolted," eyewitness named only as Ivan told RT television channel.

The man said that the passengers broke the doors of the train and got out. There was panic in the car during the first few minutes after the accident, the man said. "The train derailed, there was a large hole on the floor, so it was deformed a lot. Men began breaking the doors. We got out and saw the workers, who were building a parallel tunnel."

The workers helped the passengers out. "We went out on the work exit. We used the elevator up and received first aid on the surface," the man said.

Some people did not want to go out as they were too scared and did not want to suffer even more in the tunnel. "Those who were not scared, they all went out. There was thick smoke, it was hard to breathe. There were man wounded people, blood was everywhere on the floor. With us, about 40 people came out. Then,  emergency workers arrived and began to clean up the train."

Ivan also noted that the first train car was very badly damaged. "It was smashed. When we were trying to break the door of our car, a flash occurred, and smoke started billowing. We did not see the fire, though. At first, there was panic, but then people calmed down. The first car was clamped, but the rear cars were uncoupled. The first car was smashed. All passages were closed," said the eyewitness.

As previously reported, the accident in the Moscow subway took place on Wednesday morning, July 15. The administration of the Moscow Metro will have to pay compensations to all victims of the accident in the amount of up to 2 million rubles, depending on the degree of injuries. Relatives of the killed individuals will receive 2 million rubles ($57,000), plus 25,000 for funeral expenses, officials said.

The exact number of victims is yet to be specified.