A Milan tram derailed on Friday afternoon killing at least two people and injuring around 40 others. It is one of the city’s most serious public transport accidents in recent years, authorities say.
The incident occurred shortly after 16:00 local time on Viale Vittorio Veneto, near Porta Venezia. A Number 9 tram derailed, came off its tracks and crashed into a building façade and shop window.
How the Milan tram derailed
According to local emergency services and prosecutors, the modern tram suddenly left the rails while travelling towards Porta Genova. Video footage and preliminary reconstructions suggest the vehicle may have failed to follow the intended track switch, causing it to veer off course at speed before striking a street fixture and then colliding with the side of a building.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying moment aboard the tram.
“I thought it was an earthquake. I was sitting and I fell to the floor, along with the other passengers. It was terrible,” one commuter told ANSA, recounting the violent jolt as the tram derailed.
Casualties and response
Initial emergency reports indicate that two people died, one a pedestrian hit by the tram and the other a passenger on board, although early accounts varied on the toll. Nearly 40 to 50 people were injured, including several seriously. Medical teams from multiple hospitals mobilised, and civil protection units set up outdoor treatment stations near the scene.
Fire crews and paramedics used stretchers and blankets to assist survivors, while ambulances rushed the more severely wounded to local medical facilities.
Investigation under way
Prosecutors have opened a formal investigation. Inquiries will look into possible negligence and whether the tram driver may have experienced a sudden medical issue or failed to engage a track switch properly. Milan’s chief prosecutor, Marcello Viola, visited the scene. Authorities are examining onboard controls, safety systems and CCTV footage as part of the probe.
Italian public transport operator Azienda Trasporti Milanesi expressed shock and commitment to cooperating with investigators. Officials said the tram involved was one of the latest models introduced into Milan’s fleet, which has been undergoing modernisation.
Reactions to the incident
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her deepest condolences to the victims’ families. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said he was “grieved”. Salvini called for answers into what caused the derailment. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, described the incident as a “tragedy” and emphasised the city’s ongoing support for those affected.
The derailment comes as Milan is hosting international events, including Fashion Week, and continues preparations after the 2026 Winter Olympics towards the upcoming Paralympic Games. The accident has disrupted tram and vehicular traffic on Vittorio Veneto and surrounding streets, with authorities advising commuters to seek alternative routes while investigations continue.
