A tragic train accident occurred on Sunday evening in the German state of Baden-Württemberg: a passenger train derailed near Riedlingen. There were about a hundred passengers on board.
Authorities reported injuries and the German press reported several fatalities. Rescue operations are currently underway, and the state’s interior minister has left for the scene.
Mass injuries, shocking details
According to initial information from the German federal police, there may have been around 100 people on the train. The emergency call center in Reutlingen reported «mass injuries», and the German news agency dpa reported, citing security sources, that several people had lost their lives in the accident.
A police spokesman in Stuttgart confirmed that at least three injured people had been treated, but added that the number of victims could rise as rescue operations were still ongoing.
Accident circumstances
The train derailed near Riedlingen in the southeast of Baden-Württemberg on Sunday evening. A severe storm swept through the area during the day, so authorities are also investigating what role the weather may have played in the accident.
The first images taken after the accident show that several carriages of the yellow-and-white train derailed, at least one completely overturned on its side in the wooded area. Approaching the scene was difficult due to dense vegetation and the storm.
A huge rescue operation has been launched
Firefighters, paramedics, police and disaster management units have been deployed to the scene in large numbers. The work of the rescue teams is being hampered by the terrain and the weather. According to our information, there are several seriously injured people who are being transported to nearby hospitals by rescue helicopters.
A witness told the German press: “It was terrifying. One of the carriages was completely overturned, people were screaming. Some passengers were trying to pull themselves out of the wreckage.”
Interior Minister rushed to the scene
The seriousness of the accident is indicated by the fact that Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg, immediately set off for the scene. In a brief statement, he said: “Our thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their relatives. We will provide all assistance.”
The causes of the accident are being investigated
The police and railway authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. It is not yet clear whether a technical fault, a natural disaster or human error caused the derailment.
According to some sources in the region, there may have been earlier warnings about erosion along the tracks, and sudden rainfall could have weakened the track structure. Experts are now examining these possibilities.
Images from the scene
The first photos, which are circulating on social media and German news portals, show a shocking picture:
seats hanging out of the carriage that had tilted on its side,
bent rails,
cries for help and rescue units can be seen in the footage. Some passengers were freed from the wreckage with a hand-held tension cutter.
Traffic suspended
Rail traffic in the area was immediately stopped, several long-distance trains were diverted to other routes, and others were canceled. According to a statement from the German railway company (Deutsche Bahn), they are trying to transport passengers with alternative bus replacements.
Continuously updated news
The events are changing minute by minute, so the authorities and the press promise more details in the coming hours. Due to the severity of the tragedy, political and social figures across Germany have also expressed condolences.
Our editorial team expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured.