Reports: landslide derails train in northern Italy, causing 7 deaths, injuries

Reports: landslide derails train in northern Italy

ROME — A train was hit and derailed by a landslide in northern Italy Monday, leaving seven people dead and about 20 injured, rescue officials and news reports said.

The accident happened near the city of Merano, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Venice.

Sky Italia said there were seven dead. The ANSA news agency said some of the 20 people injured were in serious condition and had been taken to hospitals.

Local rescue officials were not immediately available to confirm as they rushed to the scene.

Florian Schrofenneger of the firefighters in nearby Bolzano told Sky Italia that a landslide had hit the train. He did not immediately know how many people were aboard the train.