Riedlingen, Germany – A regional passenger train derailed in a wooded area in southwestern Germany on Sunday, killing three people and injuring several others, police confirmed.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:10 pm (1610 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state. Around 100 passengers were aboard the train when two carriages derailed for reasons yet unknown.
Police initially reported four fatalities before correcting the figure to three victims, according to AFP. While authorities declined to elaborate on the precise number or severity of injuries, German tabloid Bild cited emergency workers estimating at least 50 injured.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed multiple deaths and numerous injuries, stating that an investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched. As a direct consequence of the derailment, rail traffic has been suspended over a 40-kilometre (25-mile) stretch of the route.
German media outlets, citing weather service reports, suggested that a landslide might have caused the accident, as severe storms were sweeping through the region at the time.
