Milan, Jan. 23 (TNS): A packed commuter train has derailed near the northern Italian city of Milan, leaving at least three people dead and around 10 seriously injured, officials said here on Thursday.
Several people were rescued from the wreckage of the carriages that derailed next to the Pioltello Limito station in the morning rush hour.
The cause of the accident is not yet clear but a collapse of the rail track is under investigation.
Witnesses said the train trembled for a few minutes before the accident.
The Trenord train, carrying some 250 people, was heading to Milan’s Porta Garibaldi station from Cremona when it derailed at about 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT).
The train was travelling at normal speed when the accident happened, a spokesperson for Trenord told Reuters news agency. Services in the area were halted for hours.
The identities of the victims have not been confirmed, but Italian media report that they are all women.
“A train can derail for only two reasons; either through a structural collapse of the track or a collapse of the train. This is the first thing that needs to be cleared up,” said Raffaele Cattaneo, president of the regional council.
RFI, which manages the rail network, said there was a rupture in the track but that it was unclear whether this was a cause or a consequence of the accident.
“The rail track collapse was detected 2.3km [1.4 miles] before the spot of the accident… but it is premature to establish the dynamics of the accident,” said regional director Vincenzo Macello.
