TRANSPORTATION

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Worst Rail Incidents by Death Toll

This list features the worst rail incidents in history by death toll.

RANK	INCIDENT	LOCATION	DEATH TOLL	DATE	CAUSE
1	Sri Lankan tsunami train wreck	Galle District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka	900–1,700	26 December 2004	Tsunami
2	Ciurea rail disaster	Iasi County, Romania	800–1,000	13 January 1917	Collision
3	Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne derailment	Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, France	675	12 December 1917	Train derailment
4	Vereshchyovka train disaster	Oryol Oblast, Soviet Union	600	24 January 1944	Explosion
5	Guadalajara train disaster	Guadalajara, Mexico	600	22 January 1915	Collision
6	Ufa train disaster	Ufa, Soviet Union	575	4 June 1989	Gas explosion
7	Balvano train disaster	Balvano, Basilicata, Italy	517	3 March 1944	Carbon monoxide poisoning
8	Awash rail disaster	Awash, Afar, Ethiopia	428	13 January 1985	Derailment
9	Dancheon train disaster	Tanchon, North Korea	400	26 December 2023	Collision
10	Al Ayatt train disaster	Egypt	383	20 February 2002	Collision
11	Stará Kremnička derailment	Stará Kremnička, Slovakia	370	27 December 1944	Train derailment

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References

AA, (n.d.). Tragedy on the tracks: Remembering the world’s deadliest train accidents. [online] Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/tragedy-on-the-tracks-remembering-the-worlds-deadliest-train-accidents/2914460 [Accessed 1 December 2025]. Arnold & Itkin LLP, (n.d.). The 5 worst train accidents in history. [online] Available at: https://www.arnolditkin.com/blog/train-accidents/the-5-worst-train-accidents-in-history/ [Accessed 1 December 2025]. Wikipedia, (n.d.). List of accidents and disasters by death toll. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_disasters_by_death_toll#Rail [Accessed 1 December 2025].

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Worst Rail Incidents by Death Toll

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