One person was killed and about 40 were injured when a tram derailed in central Milan and slammed into a shopfront, a local firefighters’ spokesperson said, in one of the city’s most serious public transit accidents in recent years. One of the injured was in critical condition, according to a police source cited by AFP.
The tram — described by firefighters as one of the newest models in operation — came off the tracks on Vittorio Veneto Street, a key downtown corridor just outside Milan’s historic center, spokesperson Vittorio Di Giacomo told Reuters. The yellow-and-white carriage skidded across the roadway and crashed through a store window.
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Local emergency services said 13 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Civil protection teams set up a tent to assist the injured, according to an eyewitness.
“I just heard an enormous bang,” said Anna, 27, who was in a nearby office when the crash happened, according to AFP. “I saw a bit of the tram had gone into a shop.” Witnesses at the scene told reporters the tram had been traveling fast before it derailed.
One passenger told the ANSA news agency, “I thought it was an earthquake.” The rider said they were seated when the tram veered, throwing people to the floor. “It was terrible,” the passenger said.
Photos and video from the area showed the derailed tram slung diagonally across Vittorio Veneto Street, debris scattered near the storefront and emergency crews working around the wreckage as bystanders looked on.
Authorities did not immediately provide a cause for the derailment. While witness accounts pointed to speed, officials have not confirmed any contributing factors. There was no immediate information on the number of passengers aboard or the identities of the victims.
The crash halted traffic along one of Milan’s central arteries and drew a large emergency response, underlining the scale of the incident in a city where trams are a defining feature of daily life. Milan operates one of Europe’s most recognizable tram networks, blending historic rolling stock with newer carriages on heavily used urban routes.
Firefighters and emergency medical teams continued treating the injured as investigators began documenting the scene. Di Giacomo, the firefighters’ spokesperson, said the tram left the rails before striking the shop window, but further details would depend on the outcome of the investigation.
Local authorities urged residents to avoid the area while crews worked to secure the site and remove the tram. Transit officials did not immediately release information on service changes.
This is a developing story. More details will be added as they are confirmed by authorities.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
