MOSCOW // A rush-hour subway train derailed in Moscow on Tuesday, killing 19 people and injuring at least 150.
Several cars went off the track in the tunnel after a power surge triggered an alarm, which caused the train to stop abruptly.
At least 50 of the injured are in grave condition, according to Moscow health department chief Georgy Golukhov.
Mr Golukhov told Russian television that only one person is still trapped in a wrecked train car but said he was still alive.
Emergency services at the scene, however, speculated there could be more trapped commuters.
The Russian capital’s airports and transit systems have been hit by several terrorist attacks over the past two decades but officials said on Tuesday this appeared to be an accident.
Russian emergency situations minister Vladimir Puchkov said terrorism has been ruled out.
A witness saw injured people being taken out of the Park Pobedy station in west Moscow on stretchers and four medical helicopters taking off from the lawn nearby.
Yuri Akimov, a Moscow spokesman for the emergency services, said that about 200 people were evacuated from the train, which was stuck between two stations.
Park Pobedy is the deepest metro station in Moscow’s subway system – 84 meters deep, making rescue efforts particularly challenging.
While accidents are regular occurrences in the Moscow Metro, deadly incidents are rare.
* Associated Press
