A train carrying around 80 passengers has derailed in Switzerland following an avalanche this morning, authorities said as rescuers scrambled to reach survivors.
Several carriages were forced off the line near the village of Goppenstein, in the southwestern canton of Valais, around 7am this morning, police said.
Ambulances and rescue helicopters raced to the scene as police warned injuries were “likely”. They reported just after 10am local time that 30 people have so far been evacuated.
“The train derailed due to an avalanche that came down in the Stockgraben area,” a spokesperson for train owner BLS told 20 Minuten.
It was unclear whether the train was struck directly by the avalanche. Other services on the Frutigen-Brig line will be suspended until at least tomorrow.
The train left Spiez at 6.12am and was heading southbound towards Brig when the avalanche happened.
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