Twenty individuals sustained injuries in Berlin after a tram accident resulted in cars derailing, leading to a dozen people being swiftly transported to hospitals with a minimum of 20 casualties. The incident occurred in the Neu-Hohenschönhausen district of north-eastern Berlin, prompting over 50 firefighters to respond to the derailment scene.
Reports from local media indicated that the tram on the M17 route collided with a power pole and suffered damage around 9:30 am. The CEO of the Berlin public transport company (BVG) addressed the crash site at approximately 11 am, expressing deep sorrow over the distressing scenes witnessed and conveying sympathies to the injured and passengers.
Transport chief Henrik Falk stated, “The cause of the accident is yet to be determined. Whether it resulted from technical issues, human error, or a medical emergency remains uncertain at this time.” A spokesperson from the fire department confirmed that an emergency call was received at 9:29 am reporting the tram derailment on Wartenberger Straße near Arnimstraße, where no parts of the train overturned fortunately.
According to information from German news website bz-berlin.de, a portion of the tram collided with a power pole and sustained damage. The fire department deployed 51 personnel to the scene, with three passengers sustaining severe injuries and 17 experiencing minor injuries. Twelve individuals were subsequently transferred to hospitals.
Emergency crews were dispatched by transport authorities to deactivate the tram’s power supply, while alternative bus services were arranged due to disruptions on lines M5 and M17 following the incident.
