The shocking railway accident occurred in San Bernardo, in the Santiago Metropolitan Region.

Fifteen minutes after midnight on Thursday, a head-on collision between an empty test train and a freight train resulted in the deaths of two Chilean workers.

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The shocking railway accident occurred in San Bernardo, in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Authorities also recorded nine injured individuals, four of whom are Chinese nationals and are in serious condition.

“I was on the road when I saw a freight train. Shortly after, the freight train collided with the passenger train, and the last car of the passenger train was lifted about five meters,” said a witness of the accident, according to La Vanguardia.

The State Railway Company (EFE) reported that its affected train was conducting speed tests. The other train, consisting of eight cars, was transporting 1,346 tons of copper.

EFE President Eric Martin explained that the four crew members of the test train were Chinese citizens who were “fine-tuning the train.”

“All the crew members were workers participating in the tests… A dozen fire trucks and ambulances were dispatched to the scene to respond to the emergency,” reported El Clarín.

The reasons for the accident are currently unknown. The Chilean military police (Carabineros) are in charge of the investigation.

Sources: La Vanguardia – EL Clarin

teleSUR/ JF

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