Train Derailment Sparks Major Fire in Russia's Smolensk Region

A freight train carrying gasoline collided with a truck at a railway crossing in Russia's Smolensk region, near the Belarus border, causing the derailment of the locomotive and 18 fuel tank cars. Despite the train driver applying emergency brakes, the collision was unavoidable, resulting in fires engulfing six of the fuel wagons and moderate injuries to the train driver and his assistant. Emergency services, including ten fire trucks and a specialized firefighting train, are actively battling the blaze and working to contain environmental risks posed by the fuel spill. Rail traffic along this critical corridor linking Moscow with Western Russia and Europe has been suspended while investigations and damage assessments continue. Authorities are coordinating rescue, security, and investigative efforts to determine the accident's circumstances and restore railway operations once the fire is controlled. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns at Russian level crossings, frequently attributed to drivers ignoring signals.