At least 7 dead, 30 injured as bridge collapse causes train derailment in Russia

At least seven people were killed and several others sustained injuries after a passenger train derailed late Saturday in Russia’s western Bryansk region following a bridge collapse, Reuters reported, citing Regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz. The train was travelling from Moscow to Klimov when it came off the tracks in the Vygonichskyi district.

Authorities said the collapse was caused by “illegal interference in transport operations,” but did not provide further details.

The regional governor, Alexander Bogomaz, confirmed the incident on Telegram, saying emergency services were on the scene. The derailment occurred near a federal highway, and multiple rescue units have been deployed, according to Russia’s emergency ministry.

Russian state news agencies RIA and TASS reported that the train’s driver was among the dead. Independent Telegram channels Baza and SHOT, which often cite sources in law enforcement, claimed the bridge may have been deliberately blown up, though these reports have not been independently verified. There has been no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities.

Photos shared by government agencies from the scene showed passenger train cars torn apart and scattered among chunks of concrete from the collapsed bridge. Additional videos circulating on social media appeared to have been recorded from inside vehicles that narrowly missed crossing the bridge moments before it gave way.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, its border regions including Bryansk, have seen repeated drone strikes, sabotage attempts, and cross-border shelling.

With inputs from agencies