Milan tram derails and slams into a building, killing two people

A tram derailed on Friday in central Milan, crashing into a building and resulting in the deaths of two individuals, with over twenty others injured, according to officials. The accident occurred along Vittorio Veneto avenue, a busy area in the Italian business capital, which is currently hosting its seasonal fashion shows and is in the period between the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. The No. 9 tram, which travels through Italy’s financial hub, was intended to proceed straight along Vittorio Veneto at a high speed. However, it unexpectedly veered onto a switch track meant for another tram line and went off course, as seen in footage aired by Sky TG24. The video reveals the tram nearly tipping over as it navigated the turn before crashing into the building. Milan's Mayor Beppe Sala indicated that human error might be the cause, stating that the driver seemingly failed to switch the tracks to keep the tram on its intended path. Sala noted that the driver is an experienced employee who had just begun his shift an hour earlier. Before the crash, the driver had skipped a stop and will be interviewed while receiving treatment for his injuries in the hospital. Sala confirmed that the two victims included a tram passenger and a pedestrian on the street. He mentioned that the other injured individuals were not in critical condition. Emergency services, including dozens of ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, rushed to the scene, helping to wrap passengers in thermal blankets as they left. ATM, the public transport authority of Milan, reported that it is working with prosecutors to clearly determine what caused the incident and how it unfolded.