A terrifying scene unfolded in the heart of Milan when a packed tram derailed at high speed and crashed into a building, killing two people and injuring dozens more.
The violent wreck happened around 4 p.m. local time Friday on Viale Vittorio Veneto in the city’s busy Porta Venezia district. According to Italian media reports, the Line 9 tram suddenly left its tracks, struck a pedestrian, and barreled into the front of a Japanese restaurant that had just opened.
By the time the chaos ended, two people were dead and at least 39 others had been rushed to hospitals across the city. One of the injured is reported to be in serious condition.
Emergency crews flooded the area within minutes. Thirteen ambulances, three medical response cars, firefighters, and police all responded to the crash. Firefighters worked quickly to pull shaken passengers from the mangled tram cars as stunned bystanders looked on.
The tram had been traveling from Piazza della Repubblica toward Porta Genova when it derailed. Officials have not yet confirmed what caused the crash, and the driver is now under investigation as authorities work to piece together exactly what went wrong.
One eyewitness said the tram smashed directly into a Japanese restaurant that had “just opened,” adding they felt sorry for the owners, calling them “good people.”
Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, the city’s public transport operator, released a statement saying it was “deeply shocked” by the tragedy.
“In this moment of immense grief, the company’s thoughts go first and foremost to the family of the person who lost their life and to all those injured. We extend our deepest sympathy to them,” the statement read.
The company also confirmed it is fully cooperating with judicial authorities and is providing all information needed to determine the cause of the deadly derailment.
