A tram derailed in Milan on Friday afternoon and crashed into a restaurant, leaving at least two people dead and around 40 injured in an accident that shook the northern Italian city. The incident occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. in a busy urban area with pedestrian traffic and nearby road intersections. Early reports indicate that the tram may have lost stability while navigating a turn close to a crosswalk. Witnesses described a sudden and violent movement moments before the derailment.
Several passengers reported feeling an unusual vibration seconds prior to the impact. “The tram turned, accelerated, and then slammed into the building. I had boarded at the last stop and was standing near the driver. Suddenly everyone fell on top of me,” one passenger recounted. The vehicle ultimately crashed into the façade of a restaurant, causing visible structural damage and triggering panic among those nearby.
Firefighters responded quickly to rescue individuals trapped inside the tram and among debris at the crash site. Ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. Authorities confirmed that one of the fatalities was a 60-year-old Milan resident who was walking in the area at the time of the accident. He was reportedly struck when the tram left the tracks. Among the injured, at least one person remains in critical condition, while others sustained injuries of varying severity.
Officials cautioned that casualty figures could be updated as assessments continue. A woman who witnessed the crash said she felt “something unusual beneath the tram before it derailed. Then everything turned into chaos,” describing the confusion that followed. Police cordoned off the area as transportation safety experts began preliminary inspections. The exact cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
Authorities have not ruled out mechanical failure, track malfunction, or human error as potential contributing factors. Technical data from the tram’s control systems may help clarify what happened. The tragedy has reignited discussion about urban transportation safety in densely populated European cities. As Milan mourns the victims, investigators continue working to determine how a routine afternoon commute turned into a fatal disaster.
