Two trains on Switzerland’s regional railway network derailed a few kilometers apart today, injuring at least 12 passengers, one of whom is in serious condition, police in the canton of Bern said.

The first train derailed at around 17.30 (GMT) between Liserts and Biel and the second 20 minutes later on the outskirts of Biren zum Hof.

“There are many injured,” said police spokeswoman Florina Schenk.

So far authorities have not announced how many passengers were on the two trains.

Nine adults and three children were injured in Biren zum Hof, 20 kilometers from Bern, according to local police spokeswoman Magdalena Rast.

The authorities are unable to explain the causes of the successive derailments. According to rail company RBS, gale force winds sweeping Switzerland today are likely to blame for the second accident.

A low in southern England has caused strong winds across much of Europe, according to the Swiss weather service MétéoSuisse. Gusts of wind are often accompanied by thunderstorms. Meteorologists warned in the morning that the wind speed could reach 80-110 km in the lowlands and 100-140 km in the mountains.

In the first derailment, the last cars of the train “leaned to the right,” Schenck said.

At the time of the derailment at Biren zum Hof, a weather station located in the neighboring city of Koppigen recorded a wind gust of 136 km/h, according to Meteonews.

Switzerland is famous for its dense railway network and many people choose to travel by train to admire the scenery in the Alps or to find themselves inside unique trains that climb the mountain slopes. Train accidents are not uncommon, but usually do not cause many casualties.

In 2021, a total of eight people were killed and another 47 injured in various train accidents, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office. And, although the use of this medium has increased, the number of victims in rail accidents has been steadily decreasing in recent decades.