Tram Derails in Milan, Killing One and Injuring Dozens
At least one dead and 39 injured after a tram crash in northern Italy’s fashion capital, Milan. The disaster struck around 4pm local time when a crowded tram on line 9 careened off the tracks and smashed into a building on Viale Vittorio Veneto.
Tram Crashes Into Building After Derailment
Reports indicate the victim who died was a pedestrian hit by the runaway tram. Most of the injured were passengers onboard. Emergency services rushed to the chaotic scene, with multiple ambulances attending and some people trapped in the wreckage. Witnesses said the tram made a loud noise underneath before veering off the rails, speeding up, and crashing sideways into a building.
Passengers Describe Terrifying Moments
One passenger told Ansa news, “I thought it was an earthquake. I was sitting down and I fell on the floor, along with the other passengers. It was terrible.”
The tram first hit a traffic light and smashed a restaurant window before barreling into the building. A delivery rider and a young man on the pavement narrowly escaped harm, according to local reports.
“I was standing next to the driver at the first stop, and they all crashed into me,” said a female passenger to Corriere della Sera. Nearby office worker Anna, 27, added, “I just heard an enormous bang and saw part of the tram had smashed into a shop.”
Investigation Underway as Milan Officials Respond
Civil protection teams set up a medical tent at the scene. The cause of the derailment remains unclear, though early media reports suggest the tram took a sharp corner too fast exiting Viale Vittorio Veneto. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala and other officials have arrived at the site.
Transport firm ATM expressed being “deeply shaken” and extended condolences to victims and families. This tragedy shocks a city packed with global visitors for ongoing Milan Fashion Week. The three-car tram involved is a new model, introduced only weeks ago, featuring dual driver’s cabs.
