Five people are critically injured and 13 others have suffered less severe injuries after two trains collided head-on in a level crossing accident northwest of Copenhagen early Thursday morning, according to Danish medical officials.
The collision occurred at 06:29 local time (05:29 BST) near the town of Kagerup, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital. The trains were traveling on the Gribskov line, which connects the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup, with a total of 37 passengers and crew aboard, police said.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with all injured individuals transported to hospitals by air or ambulance. Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department told Danish TV that the cause of the crash remains unclear.
Trine Egetved, mayor of the Gribskov municipality, expressed shock over the accident. "The local track is used by many Gribskov residents, workers and students," she wrote on Facebook. She added that critically injured patients were airlifted to the National Hospital in Copenhagen.
Public broadcaster DR aired images showing two yellow and gray trains with significant front-end damage facing each other in a wooded area. Denmark's Accident Investigation Board arrived at the scene and is working with local police to determine the cause.
Inspector Morten Pedersen of North Zealand police said it was too early to speculate on the cause. One expert suggested a driver may have inadvertently entered the wrong track by overriding a stop signal, noting that the Gribskov line is not equipped with an automated safety system.
"It is shocking that two trains can collide head-on," Egetved told DR. "We must ensure it never happens again."
Rail accidents are rare in Denmark, and this incident has prompted calls for improved safety measures on the regional line.