Chechnya-Moscow train derails, injuring 10 people

MOSCOW – A passenger train that had been traveling from Chechnya to Moscow derailed early this morning, injuring 10 people, emergency officials said.

Russian news agencies initially reported that an explosion hit the train.

They noted that the incident occurred on a national holiday, Day of Russia.

Many Chechen rebel attacks have been timed to take place on significant Russian holidays.

However, citing authorities in the Moscow region where the incident occurred, the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies later reported that a preliminary investigation has indicated a technical problem caused the incident.

ITAR-Tass quoted regional deputy governor Alexei Panteleyev as saying that “at first glance, one can say that the cause of the incident was a technical accident, which resulted in the connection between the locomotive and the rest of the train coming undone.”

Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov said 10 people were injured.

Two children were among the injured, Interfax reported. The crash occurred about 90 miles south of Moscow.

Beltsov, the Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman, said two cars left the rails and five cars were left leaning at an angle.

Interfax news reported that the train was traveling at a slow speed, which ultimately prevented additional injuries.