Swiss train derails, injuring five

A regional train derailed early on Monday in southern Switzerland, police said, injuring five people with more than two dozen evacuated. The accident near the town of Goppenstein occurred as the region is under its second highest avalanche warning, a level four out of five. “According to initial findings, an avalanche may have crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed,” police stated, adding that the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.

At the time of the incident, around 7:00 am (0600 GMT), 29 people were on board the train, police said. “Five people were injured. One of them was taken to hospital,” police said, adding that the rest of the passengers had been taken to safety.

Heavy snow was falling in the village, located at an altitude of 1 216 meters (4 000 feet), later Monday, an AFP journalist observed. The train was not immediately visible. Goppenstein, a key loading and unloading hub for road and rail transport, is located at the exit of the Lotschberg rail tunnel.

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The train derailed as it was exiting the tunnel, police said. Police advised journalists not to remain at the scene due to the high risk of avalanches in the area. The federal train operator CFF also said on its website that train traffic “is interrupted between Goppenstein and Brig” because of an avalanche.

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