Biberach (Baden-Württemberg) – A passenger train derailed in Baden-Württemberg early Sunday evening. Several people were killed and injured, the German Press Agency reported, citing security sources.
The train accident occurred around 6:10 p.m. near Zwiefaltendorf in the Biberach district (Baden-Württemberg). A spokesperson for the responsible federal police in Stuttgart told BILD:"Two carriages of the Deutsche Bahn regional express train derailed."
100 people were sitting on the train
At the time of the accident, there were 100 people on the train."At least three of them are injured. No information can currently be given on the severity of their injuries," the spokesperson continued.
Video footage from the scene of the accident shows firefighters and rescue personnel working on the derailed carriages to gain access to the passengers. Loud screaming can also be heard.
Parts of the derailed train lie on its side
Part of the train lies on its side, the roof of one carriage is open. The carriages, which have completely jumped off the tracks, lie on the wooded embankment between trees.
Federal police forces had to travel a long distance to the scene of the accident. As of 7:30 p.m., a large contingent of police, firefighters, and rescue personnel is on the route, caring for the injured.
► The control center in Reutlingen (Baden-Württemberg) had previously reported internally a so-called “mass casualty incident” – in rescue services, this refers to a situation in which a large number of injured or sick people are expected to require care.
Rescuers search for injured after train accident
It's still unclear whether a storm or trees on the track caused the train to derail. A Federal Police spokesperson stated:"The exact cause of the accident is currently being investigated."
Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (65, CDU) is on his way to the scene of the accident. He will assess the rescue efforts, his spokesperson said. Help is also arriving from the neighboring state: The Bavarian Red Cross sent units to the crashed train.
