A tram derailed and crashed into a building in Milan, Italy, killing at least two people and injuring up to 40 others. The incident occurred around 16:00 local time on the line 9 route along Viale Vittorio Veneto.

One of the deceased, a 60-year-old man, is believed to have been a pedestrian hit by the tram, while the other fatality and most of the injured were passengers. Numerous ambulances responded to the scene, with reports of people trapped in the wreckage.

Passengers described hearing a noise under the tram before it veered off the track, accelerated, and struck a building. "I thought it was an earthquake," one man told Ansa news agency.

After derailing, the tram reportedly hit a traffic light before smashing a restaurant window. The cause remains unclear, though media reports suggest the tram took a sharp corner too quickly.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "deepest condolences" over the deaths. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala and other city officials visited the crash site, with Sala calling it a "tragedy" and announcing an investigation.

Transport company ATM said it was "deeply shaken" by the incident. The derailment occurred during Milan Fashion Week, as the city hosts international visitors.

Source: www.bbc.com