Train in Germany Accidentally Gets Off Track, Killing 4 People

At least four people were killed when a regional train derailed in southern Germany, according to local authorities.

According to a police spokesperson, the Munich-bound train was nearly full at the time of the incident in Burgrain, Bavaria, north of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a major hiking and skiing destination.

At least four people were slain, according to police. According to Al Jazeera, the number of injured is estimated to be around 30.

Initially, a local official in Garmisch-Partenkirchen said that 60 people had been hurt, but Stefan Sonntag, a spokesman for the German federal police, clarified that the figure referred to the number of passengers on the train.

Sonntag told reporters that 15 of the injured were in serious condition at a local hospital. Authorities also confirmed that several children were among those hurt.

The Train Was Very Crowded

The spokesperson said the regional train was "very crowded and many people were using it," thus a large number of injuries, as Germany announced a new discounted rail ticket.

Regional trains have seen increased passenger numbers since June 1, when a low-cost ticket allowing Germany-wide travel became available, according to Forbes.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a ski resort in the Alps in Bavaria's southern area.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed shock at the incident and said his sympathy was with the families of the victims, BBC reported.

The area has begun preparations for the G7 summit of world leaders later this month, and the rescue mission has attracted the help of many police and military stationed in the vicinity.

Investigators are trying to figure out what caused the crash.

On Friday, around 13:15 local time (11:15 GMT), just after the train left Garmisch-Partenkirchen for Munich, an accident occurred.

The cause of the accident, which occurred as the train approached a wide bend, is uncertain, but Bavaria's transport minister, Christian Bernreiter, told regional television BR that a technical issue could have caused it.

Bernreiter noted that there were "no third parties involved," and the assumption is "either on the vehicle or on the rail - was the cause."

When the train derailed, a US soldier stationed at a nearby air base was driving by. He told local media that the incident was "just awful," and the train toppled suddenly.

Rail Route Fully Blocked as Emergency Efforts Continue

Photos shared on social media show people were carried away on stretchers and stood around on the tracks.

To rescue survivors trapped in upturned carriages, emergency crews had to use ladders to climb down through windows, and officials stated passengers had been "pulled through the windows" to save them from the wreckage, Forbes reported.

Six helicopters were dispatched to the area, three of which were deployed from the Austrian region of Tyrol.

According to authorities, a large emergency services operation was still ongoing, and the rail route was fully blocked. According to DG Regio Bayern, no rail replacement service will be provided due to further road restrictions.

Near 1998, a high-speed train derailed in Eschede, Lower Saxony, killing 101 people, making it Germany's deadliest rail accident in modern times.

The country's most recent tragic disaster occurred in February, when two trains collided near Munich, killing one person and injuring 14 others.