BERLIN (AP) — An exercise crash in the southern German Alps on Friday left at least 4 other people dead and many injured, the government said.
Police said the regional exercise to Munich gave the impression it had derailed shortly after noon in Burgrain, just outside the Garmisch-Partenkirchen beach hotel, from where it had broken down. Three of the double-decker cars overturned at least in the component and other people were pulled out of the windows to safety.
Police said on Twitter that four other people had been killed. They estimate the number of injured at about 30, to which are added 15 seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
The cause of the derailment is still under investigation. About 140 more people were in the exercise at the time, and many students returning from school for the Pentecost holiday joined.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Bavarian Governor Markus Soeder expressed surprise and regret at the disaster.
“Everything possible is being done for the injured, whom we wish a speedy recovery,” Scholz said. “Our mind is with the enjoyed. “
Soeder said exercise scholars moved ahead of the holidays.
“Much respect and thanks to the rescue for their help,” he tweeted.
The line between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberau, north of the site of the destination turn, was closed. The domain is close to the Austrian border.
The train is popular with travelers and tourists in Germany, which has a dense network of local and long-distance trains.
Although injuries are rare on road trips, there have been several fatal rail injuries in recent years.
An exercise dispatcher was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for a twist of fate in 2016 that killed 12 others in Bad Aibling, about 80 kilometres northeast of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The dispatcher admitted to betting a game on his phone on a while earlier two exercises collided on a single track line.
Earlier this year, a man died after the driving force of a commuter exercise south of Munich triggered a prevention signal, resulting in a collision with the exercise.