Headline: Coal Carriage Derailment in Batantovci Causes Widespread Damage; No Injuries Reported
Subhead: Four coal cars derailed, causing significant property damage and disrupting rail traffic.
Article:
A derailment of a coal-carrying train earlier today near Batantovci, Bulgaria, has resulted in substantial material losses, according to the town’s mayor, Radoslav Petrov. The incident occurred when four train cars veered off the tracks, spilling coal and damaging a nearby private property in the "Andreevna" neighborhood.
Petrov emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the area is difficult to access. The derailment has left the rail line without power and several damaged railroad ties. "We’re struggling to get a locomotive to the scene to realign the cars, so for now, we’re using small carts to unload them," he said.
The mayor estimates that restoring the damage will take at least a week. In the meantime, train services on the international line have been rerouted to terminate at Batantovci station. Bus services have been arranged to transport passengers onwards to destinations such as Radomir, Dupnitsa, and Kyustendil, with one bus leaving each hour.
Petrov commended the swift response from the Bulgarian State Railways (BDz) management, acknowledging their presence at the site. Despite the significant aftermath, he noted the favorable outcome of the incident: "The good news is that there are no reported injuries, but the aftermath is quite substantial."
As investigations into the cause of the derailment continue, travelers are urged to monitor updates and plan their journeys accordingly.
