Passenger train derailed in the Swiss Alps after being hit by an avalanche / Police announce injuries
Railway in the Swiss Alps. Credit line: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
An avalanche derailed a train near the Swiss village of Goppenstein. Police estimate that several people were injured in the accident, according to Swiss media.
The derailment occurred on Monday morning at around 7 a.m. in the canton of Valais in southwestern Switzerland, police said on social media platform X, as quoted by swissinfo.ch.
The Swiss Federal Railways wrote on its website that the accident was caused by an avalanche.
Rail traffic between Goppenstein and Brig, in the canton of Valais, was suspended until “at least 4 p.m.” Train delays and cancellations are expected.
The rescue operation is still ongoing.
Recent snowfall and storms have resulted in the accumulation of a large amount of windblown snow in the Valais. Under these conditions, avalanches can be easily triggered or occur spontaneously, according to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF.
We are back with the news.
