More than 170 people evacuated after technical malfunction at Bucharest subway

A total of 172 people were evacuated after a subway train that left from Piaţa Romană station heading to Berceni broke down on the morning of May 24.

Twenty-five received medical attention and two of them, who had preexisting medical conditions, were taken to the hospital, Raed Arafat, the head of the Emergency Situations Department (DSU), said, quoted by Stiri.tvr.ro.

Metrorex, the operator of the Bucharest subway, announceda “technical malfunction leading to a smoke release,” while the head of the intervention team, which included firefighters, said a fire had broken out, News.ro reported. The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (ISU) said the fire was put out.

The passengers in the affected train were evacuated, as were passengers at Piaţa Victoriei and Universitate stations.

The Bucharest Transport Company (STB), the operator of the city's overground public transport, introduced a dedicated line linking Piața Unirii and Piața Charles de Gaulle for the passengers impacted by the incident, the Bucharest mayor said.

(Photo: Octav Ganea/ Inquam Photos)