GENEVA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Five people were injured after a train derailed early Monday in the southwestern Swiss canton of Valais, local police said.
In a social media post, the Valais police said a train operated by Bern-Lotschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS), traveling from Goppenstein to Hohtenn, derailed at around 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Monday.
Police said there were 29 people on board at the time of the accident. One injured passenger was taken to a hospital in Sion, while the other four were treated on site by emergency services. All passengers were evacuated.
"According to preliminary findings, an avalanche may have crossed the railroad tracks shortly before the train passed," the police said.
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and BLS announced a service disruption between Goppenstein and Brig.
The line is currently closed and the disruption is expected to last at least until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, SBB said on its website.
Fresh snowfall and storms have resulted in a large amount of wind-drifted snow in Valais. Avalanches can be easily triggered or occur spontaneously under such conditions, according to the latest bulletin from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. ■