Police say heavy rain may have triggered a landslide, depositing debris onto the tracks and causing the derailment.
A regional passenger train carrying around 100 people derailed in southern Germany on Sunday evening near the town of Riedlingen in Baden‑Württemberg, killing three individuals and injuring dozens more.
The Regional Express 55, en route from Sigmaringen to Ulm, left the tracks at approximately 6:10 pm local time, with two carriages overturning in a forested embankment about 28 miles southeast of Ulm.
Authorities suspect that heavy rainfall caused a landslide, which swept mud and debris onto the tracks and precipitated the derailment. “A landslide triggered by the water overflow likely caused the train to derail,” a police spokesman said.
Rescue operations involved firefighters, air ambulances, and medical teams, who used saws to free trapped passengers. Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences, saying, “We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives,” and pledged full government support to rescue efforts.
Transport authorities have launched an investigation into the crash’s cause, while the train line remains closed pending safety assessments.