According to reports from Italian media on Thursday, a tragic incident occurred in northern Italy where five railway workers lost their lives after being struck by a train during their overnight maintenance duties.

The incident unfolded on the Milan-Turin line, with a train carrying wagons traveling at a speed of 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour. The impact occurred while the workers were replacing sections of the track near Brandizzo, situated on the outskirts of Turin. 

Tragically, the workers were dragged for a significant distance by the train’s force. 

Fortunately, two of their colleagues who were working in close proximity managed to evade harm, including the team’s foreman.

Paolo Bodoni, the mayor of Brandizzo, shared that an emergency responder recounted a disturbing scene where human remains were scattered across a distance of 300 meters. He expressed his profound sorrow, labelling the event as an immense tragedy.

Speculation emerged that a possible communication breakdown might have played a role in the incident. This speculation was echoed by the mayor, who mentioned an ongoing investigation aimed at establishing the facts.

Although the train operator was understandably shocked, they sustained no physical injuries. 

In response to the tragedy, RFI, the organization responsible for Italy’s railway network, expressed its deep grief over the incident and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased workers.

#MaltaDaily