At least nine die as landslide hits train

More than 30 others were injured, many seriously, in the accident near Merano, a small town close to the Austrian border at about 0900 yesterday (0700 GMT)

At least one carriage was destroyed, its windows shattered, and the train was only prevented from plunging into the river Adige below when its roll downhill was halted by trees.

The wreckage was mired in mud from the landslide which was unleashed by a burst irrigation pipe.

The fire department in Bolanzo, the Alpine region's largest city, said nine people were killed.

Officials had initially reported 11 dead, but said that was due to confusion after the tragedy. Three more people were believed to be missing.

Giuseppe Marazzi of the local firefighters said seven of the injured were in hospital in serious condition.

The line from Castelbello to Laces is one of Italy's most modern and was opened only five years ago. The train had been nearing its destination of Merano after departing from the small town of Malles.

Helicopters, ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene. Rescuers with shovels were digging in the mud, while a huge crane was on site to remove the wreckage. Eyewitness Alex Rowbotham told reporters: "The front of the train, the cab, is not there at all and the train is hanging off the rails about five metres from the river.

"It is now only a few trees that are holding up the train and preventing it falling into the river."

Thomas Widmann, transport adviser to the Bolzano provincial government, said the landslide appeared to have been caused by an irrigation pipe that burst, piling rocks, debris and water on to the oncoming train.