A tragic train accident rocked southwest Germany on Sunday afternoon when a regional train travelling between Sigmaringen and Ulm derailed between the towns of Riedlingen and Munderkingen (Baden-Württemberg) after a landslide caused by heavy rains.
The incident, which has shocked the German railway industry, left three people dead, including the train driver, another railway employee and a passenger, and at least 41 people injured, some seriously.
Torrential rains and sewer overflows could be the causes
According to preliminary information gathered by the prosecutor’s office and the local police, exceptional rainfall over the weekend caused a manhole near the track to overflow. This overflow generated an accumulation of water that eventually led to a landslide on the slope next to the railway line.
The tongue of mud and debris slid over the railway infrastructure shortly after 18:00, at which time a regional train with about 100 passengers on board was passing through the area.
The violence of the landslide caused at least two cars of the train to slide off the track in a wooded area that was difficult for emergency crews to access. For this reason, it took them a long time to arrive and carry out the rescue work due to the rugged terrain and the presence of fallen trees.
The investigation is ongoing
Initial statements by the authorities rule out, for the moment, any indication of intentionality in the incident, focusing on the direct link between the extraordinary rainfall, the failure of the drainage system and the subsequent landslide. At the request of the public prosecutor’s office, the investigation is ongoing to clarify all details and examine possible responsibilities in the maintenance of both the hydraulic and railway infrastructures.
Deutsche Bahn, the operator of the affected service, has expressed its condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and is actively collaborating with the emergency teams and experts on the scene.
For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz conveyed a message of mourning and solidarity to the victims and their families, pledging all necessary resources for the care of those affected.
The railway section will remain closed until further notice. Work is scheduled to begin today, Monday, to remove debris and assess the damage to the infrastructure.
The event once again brings to the forefront the impact of extreme weather events on the rail network and the critical importance of maintaining drainage and protection systems against such risks.