In Milan, a Tram Derailed and Crashed Into a Building—Two Killed, 38 Injured

In Milan on Friday, a tram derailed and crashed into a building—two people were killed and 38 injured. According to the city’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, one of the victims was struck by the tram at the moment it left the tracks, while the second was inside the carriage as a passenger. Firefighters covered people in shock with emergency blankets, while ambulances transported the most seriously injured to hospitals.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed her “deep condolences” over the loss of life. An initial investigation, according to media reports, suggests that the driver failed to activate a track switch. In addition, available information indicates that he drove past the final stop on the route shortly before the crash occurred.

An eyewitness, Valerio Lione, told AFP: “There was a man trapped under the tram, his arm was pinned.” “There were many injured inside the carriage. I saw an elderly person completely covered in blood,” he added. Prosecutor Marcello Viola, who is leading the investigation, described the impact of the tram hitting the building as “devastating.”

One of the victims was an Italian man in his early sixties; the other was a foreign national living in the city. Mayor Sala said the incident “does not appear to be a technical failure but is linked to the driver’s actions.” Witnesses told reporters that the tram was travelling at high speed, although it remains unclear whether it exceeded the 50 km/h limit in force for trams.

“I just heard a deafening crash,” said Anna, who was in a nearby office at the time of the accident. According to her, part of the tram slammed into a shop. The yellow-and-white carriage came to rest across the road, close to the city centre. One passenger told the ANSA news agency: “I thought an earthquake had started. I was sitting and suddenly found myself on the floor with the other passengers. It was terrifying.”

The tragedy occurred as Milan had just hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics and is preparing for the Paralympic Games. In addition, Milan Fashion Week is currently under way in the city.