Section of tunnel collapses in Moscow metro

A section of tunnel collapsed today in the Moscow metro, causing a fire on a train, but no one was hurt, officials said.

Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov said that a concrete section fell on a train, triggering a fire. He said rescuers safely evacuated all passengers, and there were no injuries.

The accident occurred on a section of metro between Sokol and Voikovskaya stations in north-central Moscow, halting train movement.

A fleet of ambulances and fire engines arrived at the metro stations and there were huge traffic jams in the area. Authorities launched additional buses for travellers.

Moscow metro chief Dmitry Gayev said that the accident had apparently been caused by workers who erected a street billboard in the area and damaged piles supporting the tunnel's roof, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Gayev said that train movement on the line will be restored tomorrow.