Six people died when a Croatian passenger train derailed today near the Adriatic city of Split in sweltering heat at the height of the summer season, police said.
About 50 people were injured, a police spokeswoman in Split said. Some were led dazed from the scene, their clothes blood-stained.
"It all happened so fast. I felt a hit and a sudden heat," one eyewitness was quoted as saying on the website www.index.hr.
The train, travelling from the capital Zagreb, derailed shortly after midday as it approached Split, an ancient port city whose core is built along the coast in the remains of Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace.
"We still don't know what will be the final number of casualties," police spokeswoman Marina Kraljevic Gudelj said by telephone after returning from the scene. "Out of 50 injured we still don't know how many of them have life-threatening injuries."
The train was carrying around 90 passengers, on a route often used by holidaymakers heading for the coast.
Tourism is a major hard-currency earner for the European Union candidate and generates about a fifth of its gross domestic product. Many boats to Adriatic islands depart from Split.
"I have the feeling that there were many young people in the train going to the coast for holidays," said Diana Putnik, a journalist who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. "Young people with backpacks came out of the train in the state of shock."
Rough terrain was hampering rescuers' efforts.
"The rescue operation is very difficult as vehicles cannot access the site," said Kraljevic Gudelj. "The site of the accident is a kilometre away from the main road."
He said fire brigades, policemen and residents rushed to help rescue efforts.
Reuters