Swiss train derails in landslide

Police and rescue workers help after the train derailed into a ravine near Tiefencastel in a...
Police and rescue workers help after the train derailed into a ravine near Tiefencastel in a mountainous region of southeastern Switzerland. REUTERS/Kantonspolizei Graubunden

A passenger train derailed into a ravine in a mountainous region of southeastern Switzerland after encountering a mudslide on the tracks, Swiss police say.

Eleven passengers were injured after three train carriages came off the tracks near Tiefencastel, a village less than 50km northwest of the ski resort St. Moritz.

It was the second accident in a week on Switzerland's rail system, widely regarded as one of the safest in the world.

On Monday, three Israelis were killed and five others seriously injured when their minibus collided with a train at a railroad crossing in a village in central Switzerland.

In Wednesday's (local time) derailment, one of the passenger carriages fell 10 metres into a ravine, police said.

Five people were seriously injured and another six sustained slight injuries. Among those injured were two people with Japanese nationality and one Australian, according to police.

There were 140 people on board the train when the accident occurred following heavy rain in Switzerland overnight.

The Albula train line, a popular tourist route which winds for 62km through mountainous terrain crossing though tunnels and over viaducts, is expected to stay closed for two days.

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