Train Derails in Switzerland Amid Avalanche Activity in the Alps

Regional Train Derails in Southern Switzerland, Injuring Five People

A regional train derailed on Monday near the town of Goppenstein in southern Switzerland, resulting in injuries to five people. The accident occurred during a period of high avalanche risk in the region, with the public prosecutor’s office launching an investigation.

According to initial reports, the train was traveling at an altitude of 1,216 metres when it is believed that an avalanche may have crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed. Five people were injured, with one being taken to hospital for treatment.

The incident follows a series of recent avalanches in the Alps, which have resulted in multiple fatalities among skiers and hikers. In France, three skiers died last Friday after being swept away by an avalanche at the resort of Val d’Isere. Italian authorities reported that 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers had died over the previous seven days, including 10 who were killed in avalanches.

The Alpine Rescue service has warned of particularly hazardous conditions across the Alps due to recent snowfall and unstable snowpack. The agency’s spokesperson stated that even a single skier or natural overloading from snow can trigger an avalanche under such conditions.

The derailment occurred on ungroomed mountain slopes, away from well-maintained areas in Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino.

Source: Al Jazeera