A serious train derailment in Baden-Württemberg, near the city of Ulm, on Sunday evening has claimed the lives of three people and left around 50 injured, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred at approximately 6.10pm on a single-track section near the Biberach district, when two carriages of a passenger train carrying roughly 100 passengers came off the rails. Among the deceased are the train driver and a Deutsche Bahn employee.
Severe weather conditions were reported in the region prior to the train derailment, and initial findings suggest they may have played a role in the incident.
According to local police and prosecutors it may have been caused by an overflowing sewer.
"It is believed that heavy rain in the area of the accident caused a sewage shaft to overflow", Ulm police and Ravensburg prosecutors said in a joint statement.
"The water triggered a landslide on the embankment next to the tracks, which in turn caused the derailment", they added.
© Photo by THOMAS WARNACK / DPA / AFP
Initial reports were unclear regarding the severity of the accident and the number of fatalities, but confirmation came shortly after 9pm. The Ulm University Hospital declared a disaster alert due to the high number of casualties.
Traffic is still suspended on the affected railway line and cleanup work will begin tomorrow, the statement said.
The investigation is still ongoing and there is no indication of any foul play or interference with the line, authorities said.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and friends on social media. He stated that he is in close contact with the Interior and Transport Ministers and has urged them to ensure that emergency services receive all necessary support.
