- This story is developing, more to follow
A passenger train in Switzerland has derailed, with police fearing that those onboard were injured, as an avalanche hit the railway line.
Around 80 people were onboard the BLS train as it derailed near Goppenstein, in the canton of Valais.
The train had left Spiez at 6.12am, and was heading towards Brig when it derailed at around 7am today.
A spokesperson for BLS told 20 Minuten that the train was derailed by an avalanche, adding: ‘The passengers will be evacuated shortly.’
Local police said that injuries to those onboard were ‘likely’, adding that it has already initiated a response to the incident.
Following the incident, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) said the affected line was being suspended, with the disruption expected to last until 4am on Tuesday.
It comes just days after another avalanche hit the area, temporarily cutting it off from the rest of the world.
Heavy snow was seen in the area after the avalanche
The snowslide happened in the Lötschental valley last week, with one federal agency describing it as an ‘extreme event.’
Police Valais said in a post on X, shared on the evening of February 12: ‘Avalanche at 11:40 near the Rotloiwigalerie gallery (Goppenstein) Ferden–Goppenstein–Steg road closed. Final clearing work in progress, road reopening from 19:00.
‘No vehicle was hit, no injuries.’
More to follow.