Four people are dead and more than 20 injured after a tram derailed and collided with two minibuses on Proletarsky Bridge in Tula, near the “Maxi” shopping center this morning. Five of the injured are reported to be in serious condition, according to the Governor of the Tula Region, Dmitry Milyaev.

The accident prompted a large emergency response, with 12 ambulance crews arriving at the scene to transport the injured to local hospitals.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal case to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the cause of the tragedy.

Preliminary reports suggest the rear axle of the tram may have skidded due to the poor condition of the rails, leading to the initial collision with one of the minibuses. A second minibus attempting to avoid the collision was also damaged. In total, two minibuses, the tram, and two cars were involved in the accident.