THREE people have been killed and several others injured after a train with 100 passengers derailed and overturned in Germany.
A huge rescue operation has been launched to free trapped passengers following the crash near the town of Riedlingen.
Avalon.redA train derailed in south-west Germany on Sunday evening[/caption]
Avalon.redThree people were killed in the incident[/caption]
The train derailed in a forested area at around 6.10pm local time on Sunday, German news agency dpa reported.
A spokesperson for Stuttgart Police told the newspaper Bild: “Two carriages of the Deutsche Bahn regional express have derailed.”
Three people have been killed and other passengers are seriously injured, Ulm Police said.
Police added that the extent of the injuries is not yet clear.
The train is said to have been travelling from Sigmaringen to Ulm, two cities about 55 miles apart in south-west Germany.
Operator Deutsche Bahn said on X the crash happened “for reasons still unknown”.
It wrote on X: “The exact situation is currently unclear. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims and everyone now processing what they’ve experienced. More information to follow.”
There had been severe storms in the region before the tragic accident, according to German media, which reported that a landslide might have caused it.
Footage from the shocking scene shows firefighters attempting to rescue passengers as loud screams can be heard.
Part of the train was seen lying on its side, with the roof of one carriage open.
The carriages that came off the tracks lay in a wooded embankment among trees.
Firefighters are also seen using saws to free passengers from the overturned train.
Helicopters were sent to transport the injured to hospitals and doctors from nearby hospitals were called in, according to local TV station SWR.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X: “The train accident in the Biberach district shocks me.
“I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces with all available means.
“We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives.”
Germany’s transport system is often criticised for its outdated infrastructure.
The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years to modernise infrastructure.
It comes as a boy was left fighting for his life last Saturday after a car crashed into a trampoline before hitting a barn.
The accident happened in the town of Bohmte in north-west Germany.
A Volvo SUV veered off the road, tore through two hedges and struck the child.
Avalon.redRescue workers search for passengers trapped in the derailed train[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
