Italy, Feb 28: Two people have died and 38 others were injured after a tram derailed and crashed into a building in Milan on Friday, sending shockwaves through the northern Italian city.The accident occurred just outside the city centre, where the yellow-and-white tram left the tracks before slamming into a structure along the road. Emergency services rushed to the scene, with firefighters wrapping stunned passengers in thermal blankets while paramedics transported the more seriously injured to nearby hospitals.
Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, confirmed that one of the victims was struck as the tram derailed, while the second was a passenger onboard. One of those killed was an Italian man in his 60s, and the other was a foreign resident living in the city.Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed her “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims.Scenes of ChaosWitnesses described moments of confusion and fear as the crash unfolded.“There was a man trapped under the tram — his arm was stuck,” said one bystander, who added that several passengers inside appeared seriously hurt. Another witness recalled seeing “an old man completely covered in blood.”Anna, who was working nearby, said she heard “an enormous bang” before realising part of the tram had ploughed into a shopfront. “I thought it was an earthquake,” one passenger later told Italian news agency ANSA. “I was sitting and suddenly ended up on the floor along with everyone else. It was terrible.”Images from the scene showed the tram skewed across the roadway, its front section embedded into the side of a building.
Investigation UnderwayProsecutor Marcello Viola, who is leading the investigation, described the impact as “devastating.” Early reports suggest the driver may not have activated a track switch and may have passed the final stop on the line before the crash. Authorities are also examining whether speed was a factor, though it remains unclear if the tram exceeded the city’s 50 km/h limit.Mayor Sala indicated that initial findings point toward human error rather than a technical malfunction, but stressed that investigations are ongoing.City on EdgeThe incident comes at a high-profile moment for Milan. The city recently hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics and is preparing to stage the Paralympics, while also welcoming international visitors for Milan Fashion Week.As officials continue to piece together the circumstances of the derailment, tributes are beginning to emerge for the victims. For many residents, the crash has cast a sombre mood over a city accustomed to its busy tramlines and vibrant public life.Authorities have pledged a full investigation as families mourn and the injured begin their recovery.
