Twenty passengers were injured in a tram accident in Berlin that caused cars to derail, leading to a dozen individuals being rushed to the hospital, with at least 20 sustaining injuries.
The incident occurred in the Neu-Hohenschönhausen neighborhood of northeastern Berlin, prompting over 50 firefighters to respond to the scene following the derailment.
Reports from local media indicated that the tram on the M17 line collided with a power pole and was ripped open around 9:30 am. The CEO of the Berlin public transport company (BVG) addressed the crash site shortly after 11 am.
Transport chief Henrik Falk expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, “We are saddened by the distressing scenes we witnessed here. Our thoughts are with the injured and our passengers.”
Falk added that the cause of the accident is yet to be determined, whether it was due to technical issues, human error, or a medical emergency. The investigation is ongoing.
According to a spokesperson from the fire department, an emergency call was received at 9:29 am reporting the incident. The tram was traveling on Wartenberger Straße near Arnimstraße when a portion of the train derailed, but fortunately, no train parts overturned.
A segment of the tram collided with a power pole and was torn open, as reported by a German news website. The fire department deployed 51 personnel to the scene, with three passengers sustaining serious injuries and 17 experiencing minor injuries. Twelve individuals were transported to hospitals.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene to disconnect the power to the tram, while replacement buses were arranged as a result of lines M5 and M17 being suspended following the accident.