Swiss practice crash newest: Several individuals injured after avalanche causes practice to derail in Alps
Multiple people have been injured after a train derailed in Switzerland following an avalanche near the Swiss Alps, police have said.
The train derailed near Goppenstein in the Valais region at round 7am local time (6am GMT). Around 30 people have been evacuated so far after emergency services arrived on the scene.
Swiss outlet 20Minuten reported that around 80 people were believed to be onboard, with Air Zermatt helicopters and two ambulances currently involved in the rescue efforts.
Train company BLS said the train derailed due to an avalanche that came down in the Stockgraben area.
Emergency services have not provided any detail on the casualties. The site has been entirely cordoned off as investigations continue.
The train departed the town of Spiez, on the shores of Lake Thun, at 6:12am. The line is suspected to be closed until at least 4am on Tuesday (3am GMT).
Swiss train derailed by avalanche with multiple casualties feared
A train carrying around 80 passengers has derailed in Switzerland following an avalanche this morning, authorities said as rescuers scrambled to reach survivors.
Several carriages were forced off the line near the village of Goppenstein, in the southwestern canton of Valais, around 7am this morning, police said.
Ambulances and rescue helicopters raced to the scene as police warned injuries were “likely”. They reported just after 10am local time that 30 people have so far been evacuated.
“The train derailed due to an avalanche that came down in the Stockgraben area,” a spokesperson for train owner BLS told 20 Minuten.
James Reynolds reports:
Source: independent.co.uk
