A catastrophic tram derailment struck Milan’s city center on Friday, resulting in one fatality and injuring over two dozen individuals during the city’s prestigious Fashion Week celebrations. The devastating incident occurred along the bustling Vittorio Veneto avenue, a major thoroughfare in Italy’s financial capital.
Eyewitness footage captured by Sky TG24 reveals the horrifying moment when Tram No. 9, operating at considerable speed, unexpectedly veered off its designated path at a switch track junction. The vehicle nearly capsized before colliding violently with a nearby building, bringing it to an abrupt and destructive halt.
Emergency services responded with massive deployment, dispatching dozens of ambulances, fire trucks, and police units to the crash site. Rescue personnel were observed assisting traumatized passengers wrapped in thermal blankets away from the wreckage scene.
According to Lombardy welfare assessor Guido Bertolaso, confirmed through LaPresse news agency, one victim succumbed to injuries while another remains in critical condition. Milan’s public transport operator ATM issued an official statement confirming the fatality and announcing full cooperation with judicial authorities to determine the precise causes and circumstances surrounding the tragic derailment.
The timing of the accident proves particularly poignant as Milan currently hosts international fashion events while still benefiting from the infrastructure enhancements created for recent Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The incident has raised serious questions about transportation safety in one of Europe’s most vibrant economic hubs.