Two passenger trains have collided head-on in the town of Bad Aibling in southeast Germany, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 100 others, police say.
The accident happened just before 6:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday when two passenger trains operated by Meridian collided head-on on a single-track line between Rosenheim and Holzkirchen, causing one of the trains to partially derail. Well more than 100 people were on board the trains but it was less busy than usual due to carnival festivities.
A large number of rescue workers have responded to the scene, including at least 8 air ambulances, some of whom were flown in from neighboring Austria. “After the collision of two passenger trains in Bad Aibling, recovery operations are fully underway. Several hundred personnel are at the scene,” police said.
By 1 p.m., regional police confirmed that at least 10 people had been killed and that about 108 others were injured, including 18 who are are seriously injured. Police had initially reported that more than 150 people had been injured, including about 50 who were seriously injured, but authorities later revised those numbers.
Tuesday’s accident happened in the state of Bavaria, about 41 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Munich.
Train operator Meridian said in a statement that the cause of Tuesday’s accident was not immediately known. “The accident is a huge shock for us. We are doing everything to help travelers, families and employees,” said railway executive Bernd Rosenbusch. The company has opened an emergency number at 0395-43084390, while federal police have activated emergency information number 08031 2000.
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