Landslide derails train in northern Italy, 11 dead

A landslide hit and derailed a train in northern Italy on Monday, killing 11 people and leaving some 30 injured, officials said.

The accident happened near Merano, a small town close to the Austrian border about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Venice.

With the wreckage still on the tracks, rescuers were working to pull out bodies and find possible survivors. The area was cordoned off, said Giuseppe Marazzi of the local firefighters.

He said that 11 people were killed and about 30 were injured, including seven who were hospitalized in serious condition.

The train line runs between the Adige river and mountains. Thomas Widmann, a transport official in Bolzano, the biggest city nearby, said the landslide was caused by an irrigation pipe that burst open, sending rocks, debris and water down onto the oncoming train at around at 9:30 a.m.

At least one carriage was destroyed, its windows shattered, ANSA said. The carriage was prevented by trees from plunging into the river.

Officials said it was a small, local train. It was not clear how many passengers were on board.