A regional passenger train derailed early Monday in southern Switzerland, injuring five people and prompting the evacuation of more than two dozen passengers, police have confirmed.
The incident occurred near Goppenstein at a time when the region was under a level-four avalanche alert, the second-highest on Switzerland’s five-point warning scale, heightening concerns about travel safety in severe winter conditions.
Authorities said early indications point to adverse weather as a possible factor in the derailment.
“According to initial findings, an avalanche may have crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed,” police stated, adding that the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident.
The derailment occurred at around 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), with 29 passengers on board at the time.
“Five people were injured. One of them was taken to hospital,” police said, noting that all other passengers were safely evacuated from the scene.
Heavy snowfall continued in Goppenstein throughout the day. The alpine village, which lies at an altitude of 1,216 metres (4,000 feet), experienced poor visibility, and the derailed train was not immediately visible, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
Goppenstein serves as a key junction for both road and rail transport and is located at the southern exit of the Lötschberg Rail Tunnel.
Police confirmed that the train derailed as it was exiting the tunnel, underscoring the risks faced by rail operations in avalanche-prone zones during extreme winter weather.
Authorities have urged travelers to exercise caution as investigations continue and hazardous weather conditions persist across the region.
