Seoul subway crash: Up to 170 people injured as trains collide

Train crashed into back of stopped carriage at station, according to reports

Damaged subway trains are seen at a station in Seoul on 2 May 2014. (Reuters)

Up to 170 people have been injured in a crash involving two subway trains in South Korea.

One train was stopped at Sangwangshipri station in Seoul at about 3.30pm local time when another crashed into it from behind, according to reports.

One official said about 170 people reported pain after the accident and 32 were taken to hospital but no serious injuries were reported.

The cause of the accident, on the capital’s busy “circle line”, was not immediately known.

It came amid continuing anger over the government’s safety practices in the wake of the ferry disaster last month.

The boat sank near Sewol with 476 people, mostly students, on board. About 300 passengers have so far been confirmed or assumed dead.

Criticism of the emergency response and recovery operation led to the resignation of Prime Minister Chung Hong-won last week.

Harrowing footage taken on a student’s phone as the ferry sank revealed the confusion on board as passengers were told to stay where they were as it started to capsize.