Over 500 People Injured After Two Trains Collide In China

Over 500 people were injured after two subway trains collided in Beijing amid heavy snowfall on Thursday (14 December).

The accident took place on Thursday evening in the hilly western region of Beijing, on an elevated section of the extensive Changping line of the city's subway system.

The city transport authority stated on its social media account on Friday that slippery rails triggered the leading train's automatic braking system. A train, following from behind, which was on a downhill stretch, skidded and couldn't apply its brakes in time, resulting in the collision.

Emergency services, including medical staff, police, and transport officials, arrived at the scene, and by 11 pm, all passengers had been evacuated, according to reports.

The commencement of intense snowfall on Wednesday in Beijing has led to the halting of certain train services and the closure of schools.

Alerts remain in place for icy roads, extreme cold and further snowfall. Temperatures were due to fall to minus 11 degrees celsius overnight.

No fatalities have been reported from the winter storms that have struck a wide swath of northern China. Beijing's winters tend to be bitterly cold, but heavy snowfall is rare.