Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Milan rail crash: At least three dead and 10 seriously injured after passenger train derails in Italy

As many as 100 more commuters are said to have been hospitalised with minor wounds

Joe Sommerlad
Thursday 25 January 2018 08:50 GMT
Comments
Footage from the scene of a derailed train near Milan, Italy

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

At least three people have been killed and 10 seriously injured after an eight-car passenger train derailed on the outskirts of Milan, Italy.

A fire official speaking at the city’s control room put the death toll at between three and five, but this has yet to be confirmed.

As many as 100 more are said to have been hospitalised with minor wounds, according to La Stampa.

The accident happened just before 7am during rush hour this morning at Seggiano di Potello, a suburb on a busy commuter route from Cremona operated by Trenord railway company.

The cause of the incident on the approach to Milan’s Garibaldi station remains unknown but two cars appear to have peeled off the rails and come to rest at an angle.

Fire fighters and police officers work at the scene in Pioltello
Fire fighters and police officers work at the scene in Pioltello (Reuters)

Emergency services are at the scene with members of the local fire brigade in the process of rescuing travellers trapped inside the carriages.

The tragedy is expected to cause major delays across the city’s transport network for the rest of the morning.

Italy’s ageing rail system has been the subject of much scrutiny in recent years. In 2016, 23 people were killed when two trains collided on a single track in an olive grove in Puglia. In 2009, 32 people were killed when a freight train carrying liquefied petroleum gas derailed and exploded in Viareggio in Tuscany.

Trenord is a joint venture between railway operator FNM and a unit of state railway operator Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in