A day after the train accident in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, another body was recovered. The death toll rose to five. Another 43 people were injured, according to rescuers. The salvage work is difficult. Two attempts to lift the wagons failed.
A third eventually succeeded. The wagons were “twisted and twisted,” said a Bavarian police spokesman. Therefore, one can only proceed step by step. A heavy mountain crane, which can lift up to 120 tons, and lifting bags should help with that. There may be other victims among the overturned wagons. The police assume that about seven people are missing on Saturday, although these may be among the injured.
Suspicion of a technical cause
So far, five people have been killed – four women and one man – and 43 injured, three of them seriously. Some passengers had to be operated on. On Friday, there were still possible 15 seriously injured. It is still unclear why the regional train carriages derailed on their way to Munich. It is certain that a collision with another vehicle can be ruled out. Police say they are investigating in all directions. Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) and experts at the accident site suspect a technical cause. According to a railway spokesperson, the route was equipped with electronic signal boxes and modern security technology.
“Stab in the Heart”
“It is an incredible event. We sincerely hope that there will be no further deaths,” said Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) during a visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Such an accident is always a stick and a “stab in the heart”. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked all police and rescue services for their “tireless and important work”. “My thoughts are with the injured and all their families at this difficult time,” he said in a statement.
There were a total of 140 people on the train, including children. The driver has already been questioned, but police are not releasing any details. Until the end of the rescue work, which is expected to take place in mid-next week, most traffic from Autobahn 95 will have to be diverted and the highway to the south will have to be closed.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
