A tragic train derailment in southwest Germany left three people dead and over 50 injured, with emergency responders working through the night to find survivors — www.naijnaira.com reports.
The crash took place on Sunday evening near the town of Riedlingen, about 45 kilometers from Ulm, according to Bild, after two carriages of a regional express came off the tracks following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall.
Authorities said the train had roughly 100 passengers on board when the accident occurred around 6:10pm local time in a forested stretch between Sigmaringen and Ulm.
“Two carriages of a regional express train derailed on the railway line between Sigmaringen and Ulm,” Ulm police confirmed in a press statement, adding that 25 of the injured were in critical condition.
Interior Minister Thomas Strobl said, “We cannot rule out that the intense rain and a resulting landslide caused this tragic accident. Investigations are ongoing.”
Local resident Karl Figler, 76, said, “Two people were lying dead next to the train. They were carried away in blankets.”
Among the dead were the train driver and a Deutsche Bahn employee, while others were rushed to hospitals across the region.
Emergency teams and rescue dogs continued to comb through debris into Monday morning, though no additional survivors were located overnight.
Charlotte Ziller, the local fire chief, said investigations are focused on the exact cause, with early signs pointing to storm damage and possible track obstruction from landslides.
In response, Deutsche Bahn set up a hotline for affected families and opened a support center in the nearby community.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on X, “I am in close contact with the Interior and Transport Ministers. We mourn the victims. My thoughts are with the families.”
Top officials including Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz, state premier Winfried Kretschmann, and transport ministers from both CDU and the Greens visited the crash site.
Crews continue clearing the wreckage and supporting victims and their loved ones as the investigation proceeds.
Article updated 1 day ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
