In the wake of a devastating derailment on the Vorkuta-Novorossiysk passenger route, officials confirmed that seven people who lost their lives would be transported to the northern Komi cities of Vorkuta and Syktyvkar for funeral arrangements and formal procedures. The statement came from Komi’s head of administration, Vladimir Uiba, who relayed the latest information through his official Telegram channel and underscored the ongoing management of the emergency response by regional authorities.
According to Uiba, 17 passengers who survived the initial disaster were brought back to Inta aboard the rescue train. Of those, ten required hospital care, highlighting the significant impact on the survivors and the strain on local medical facilities. The gravity of the situation is reflected in the careful triage and prioritization of medical treatment for those most in need, with hospitals coordinating closely with the rescue teams to stabilize patients before any further transfers.
Uiba added that two of the victims would be returned directly to their hometown in Vorkuta, illustrating the wide geographic footprint of the tragedy within the Komi Republic. Among the eight remaining fatalities, a 14-year-old girl was reported to be in serious condition. She, along with her parents and two additional victims, faced transfer to Syktyvkar for advanced care and specialized pediatric support, where clinicians are prepared to provide the level of treatment required by such complex cases.
Earlier, authorities indicated that traffic on the Komi Republic’s vital rail corridor had resumed following the derailment, restoring the Vorkuta-Novorossiysk passenger service along the affected line. This restoration marks a critical step in reestablishing essential connectivity for residents and travelers, even as the investigation and relief operations continue at the accident site to determine the causes and prevent future incidents.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene described the moment the train derailed as chaotic and harrowing. One passenger recalled a “terrible scene,” noting how emergency responders reached the location on foot due to access challenges in the immediate aftermath. The immediate aftermath demanded rapid coordination between on-site rescuers, medical teams, and local authorities to secure survivors, locate those unaccounted for, and manage the complex logistics of medical evacuation across the region.
In the hours following the accident, the head of the Komi region traveled to the site aboard a passenger train to oversee field operations, coordinating with regional crisis management officials. The presence of regional leadership underscored the seriousness of the event and the commitment to transparency and swift action as investigators work to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the derailment and to implement any necessary safety measures to protect passengers in the future.