Three dead, several injured in Germany train derailment near Stuttgart

At least three people have lost their lives and several others have sustained serious injuries after a passenger train derailed near Riedlingen, in south-west Germany, on Saturday evening.

According to police in Ulm, the train operated by Deutsche Bahn left the tracks for reasons yet to be determined. The incident occurred around 18:10 local time in a forested area between Sigmaringen and Ulm, with approximately 100 passengers on board at the time.

Initial reports suggest a powerful storm swept through the area shortly before the derailment, although officials have not confirmed whether weather played a role in the crash.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, where dramatic images show overturned carriages lying on their sides amid fallen trees. The full scale of the damage and number of casualties remains under investigation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences in a statement posted on the social media platform X, mourning the victims and extending “deepest sympathy” to their families. He added that he was in close contact with the interior and transport ministers and had asked that emergency teams receive every available form of support.

Deutsche Bahn confirmed the derailment in a statement, describing the situation as “still unclear.” The operator noted the train was on a 90-kilometre route connecting Sigmaringen to Ulm when the accident happened.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone who now has to process this experience,” the company said.