The continuous downpours of recent weeks and rainfall of 40 to 60 mm in the past 24 hours has caused a shock landslide to hit a Rhaetian Railway train carrying 200 passengers running along the Albula line between Tiefencastel und Thusis in the Grison. Three passenger cars were derailed and 11 people injured.
Recent heavy rains have saturated the Grison
One of the three carriages came off the tracks and plunged ten metres down the slope before being halted by trees from plummeting into a ravine. Observers said that a true disaster was averted and that the casualty rate would have been much higher if the trees had not stopped the falling railway carriage. Five people were seriously injured and six others sustained slight injuries. The casualties include two Japanese and an Australian. The other injured passengers are Swiss. They were taken to nearby hospitals by Rega, the Swiss air-rescue service, and by ambulance.
Some 180 emergency workers have been deployed tothe scene alongside rail workers. Rhaetian Railways reports that the Albula Line is likely to remain closed for about two days and advises that passengers should allow for longer journey times.
