By Ayomide Otitoju
Five people were injured after a regional train derailed early Monday near Goppenstein in southern Switzerland, as authorities warned of high avalanche risk in the region.
Police said the accident occurred around 7:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) with 29 passengers on board. More than two dozen people were evacuated to safety, while one of the injured was taken to hospital.
“According to initial findings, an avalanche may have crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed,” police said, adding that the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.
The derailment happened as the region remained under its second-highest avalanche alert—level four out of five. Heavy snow was falling in the village, situated at an altitude of about 1,216 metres (4,000 feet).
Goppenstein, located at the exit of the Lötschberg rail tunnel, serves as a key loading and unloading hub for road and rail transport. Police said the train derailed as it was exiting the tunnel. Journalists were advised to leave the area due to the elevated avalanche risk.
The federal rail operator, Swiss Federal Railways (CFF), confirmed that train traffic between Goppenstein and Brig had been suspended because of an avalanche.
Last Thursday, an avalanche buried part of the main road linking the Lötschental valley to Goppenstein, disrupting traffic and the Lötschberg car shuttle for several hours, though no injuries were reported.
Separately, authorities ordered evacuations in parts of the municipality of Orsières following severe weather and strong winds, with heavy rain forecast later in the day.
Switzerland is known for its extensive and punctual rail network, with high per capita rail usage. While accidents have declined in recent decades despite increased usage, 15 people were injured in 2023 when two trains derailed during a storm near the capital, Bern.
