One car from each train derailed after an accident that took place between Taebaek Station and Mungok Station in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, about 270 kilometers east of Seoul, authorities said. The accident occurred around 5:53 p.m.
A 77-year-old woman surnamed Park was killed and 92 are being treated for injuries at nearby hospitals.
According to state-run railroad operator KORAIL, an O-Train -- a sightseeing train -- appeared to have ignored a stop signal and crashed into a stationary Mugunghwa train.
"The driver of the O-Train seemed to have misread the signal or the signal may not have worked properly," said Lee Kwang-won, a transport ministry official in charge of railway control systems.
He added the ministry will conduct further investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision.
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(Yonhap) |
Transport Minister Suh Seoung-hwan left for the accident site late Tuesday.
(From news reports)
