Several people have been killed and a number have been injured after a passenger train derailed in south-west Germany with Chancellor Friedrich Merz declaring support for rescue forces.
The incident took place about 12 miles from the French border in Biberach about 6.10pm (local time) on Sunday evening.
The train is said to have derailed in Baden-Württemberg, German newspaper Bild reports.
It is understood there had been a storm in the area shortly before the crash.
A Federal Police Stuttgart spokesperson said "two carriages of the Deutsche Bahn regional express have derailed'.
Police told German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) that several people were dead, but the exact number was unknown.
Dpa reported that at least three people were injured.
Around 100 people were on the train when it derailed in a forested area.
X
|Workers at the scene of the train derailment in Germany
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz took to X to "mourn the victims".
"The train accident in the Biberach district shocks me," he said in a translated post.
"I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces with all available means."
He added: "We mourn the victims".
REUTERS | German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is mourning the victims
"I express my condolences to their relatives."
It comes as images have emerged online which show carriages turned on their sides.
Dozens of emergency service workers are seen at the site.
Deutsche Bahn AG say the train was travelling between Sigmaringen and Ulm before it derailed.
"The exact situation is still unclear at this time," it said on X.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone who now have to process this experience."
Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl is at the scene and he told Bild that all passengers had been evacuated.
He said all carriages needed to be moved to see whether anyone was still under the train.
"Currently, we have three deaths," Strobl said.
"In addition, several dozen injured, including several seriously."