A tragic train derailment in south-west Germany has left three people dead and 41 others injured, after an overflowing sewage shaft triggered a landslide during heavy rain, local authorities said on Sunday.
The crash occurred between Riedlingen and Munderkingen, near Stuttgart, when the landslide swept across tracks following the overflow of water from a sewage system. The derailed train had been traveling along a 90-kilometer route between Sigmaringen and Ulm when the incident took place around 18:10 local time.
According to officials, the victims include the train driver, a rail employee, and a passenger. Images from the scene show train carriages overturned in a forested area, with fallen trees and emergency workers scrambling to access those trapped inside.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep sorrow, “I mourn the victims and offer my deepest sympathy to their families.”
He also said he was in contact with Germany’s interior and transport ministers, urging them to ensure emergency services receive full federal support.
Authorities said around 100 passengers were on board at the time. Emergency responders, including firefighters and paramedics, rushed to the scene to rescue the injured.
Ulm police confirmed the derailment was caused by a landslide, itself triggered by an overflowing sewage shaft after intense rainfall in the area. The stretch of track remains closed, with cleanup expected to begin Monday.
An investigation into the precise cause is underway, but authorities believe flooded embankments and loosened soilcontributed to the landslip.
Deutsche Bahn, the train’s operator, released a statement, “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone who now has to process this experience.”
The tragedy has reignited concerns over climate-related infrastructure vulnerabilities across Germany, where intense rainfall events have increased in frequency in recent years.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
