Three Georgian nationals are among the passengers of the express train from Moscow to St Petersburg that came off the rails on Friday night, killing dozens of people. The Russian Railway Lines has published the list of the passengers. Although nothing more has been reported about health condition of Khubutia, Botchorishvili and Ghonghadze.
The head of Russia`s national railway company said an investigation was underway, but there was reason to believe the incident had been caused by a bomb. Russia`s national media agency Interfax said Russian prosecutors had opened a criminal case on terrorism charges and a criminal case on charges of illegal possession of explosives.
Early reports said at least 39 people had been killed, but ministry officials later said only 25 people had been confirmed as dead, though they said the toll could rise and that at least 18 people were still unaccounted for. 96 people were said to have been injured.
The Nevsky Express, carrying 661 passengers from Moscow to St Petersburg, came off the rails at 2134 local time (1834 GMT) near the town of Bologoye, 350 km (200 miles) north of Moscow.
Rescue work took place under floodlights, near debris on the side of the railway tracks. A spokesman for Russia`s main domestic intelligence service, the FSB, declined to comment on whether an attack was suspected but Russian Railways said that an explosive device may have caused the derailment. Interfax news agency said a one-metre wide crater had been found next to the railway track.
Russian transport officials said trains were being diverted along alternate lines on one of the country`s busiest routes.
The derailment was Russia`s worst train accident for years and talk of sabotage is likely to raise fears of an upsurge in attacks on the Russian heartland by rebels from the North Caucasus.
Three Georgian nationals are among the passengers of the express train from Moscow to St Petersburg that came off the rails on Friday night, killing dozens of people. The Russian Railway Lines has published the list of the passengers. Although nothing more has been reported about health condition of Khubutia, Botchorishvili and Ghonghadze.
