Khaberni - A passenger train derailed on Monday morning in the Valais region, southwestern Switzerland, following an avalanche that struck the railway, causing injuries to a number of people and disrupting the train services, as announced by the Swiss police.
The police stated via the "X" platform that the incident occurred around 7:00 AM local time in the village of Goppenstein, indicating the possibility of injuries, with more details to be published later.
The Swiss Federal Railways confirmed that an avalanche caused the accident, resulting in the suspension of train services between the towns of Goppenstein and Brig, amid expectations of delays and the cancellation of some trips.
The train, a "Regio Express," had left the city of Spiez at 6:12 AM, and was carrying about 30 passengers at the time of the incident, according to the operating company "BLS," while other reports suggested that there were possibly about 80 passengers on board.
Emergency teams arrived at the scene of the accident, where the passengers were evacuated with the help of rescue helicopters and ambulances, while rescue operations continued, and the authorities confirmed that the accident site was completely cordoned off with an investigation opened to determine the circumstances.
The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research indicated that the heavy snowfall and recent storms caused large amounts of unstable snow to accumulate, increasing the risk of sudden avalanches.
Switzerland is known for its advanced and precise railway network that connects cities and villages across mountainous routes, and despite heavy usage, incidents are relatively rare. A similar accident occurred in 2023 near the capital Bern, when two trains derailed during a storm, resulting in 15 injuries.
