A three-car train derailment in the Swiss Alps has left five people critically injured, and six others sustained slight injury today. The incident occurred in a deep wooden valley southeast of Zurich in Switzerland. A landslide hit the mountain train leaving one carriage dangling from the rail. Luckily, it was saved by large trees.
“The train had set off from the ski resort of St. Moritz heading north toward Chur, Graubuenden’s administrative capital,” said a source to the Associated Press.
One car slid almost 33 feet down the slope before trees stopped it. Air rescue helicopters managed to evacuate everyone before more damage was done.
At first, police suspected that the train ran into a landslide, but they later reversed their assessment after discovering the actual order of events.
[Image: AP/Keystone, Arno Balzarini]
This is the second time a train in Switzerland has malfunctioned in four years. The Glacier Express tourist train derailed in 2010, killing one and injuring 42 people.
Although Switzerland’s rail system is known to be one the safest in the world, reaching the Swiss Alps won’t be feasible for a while, as the line is expected to be closed for the next two days.
[Image: AP/Keystone, Arno Balzarini]