FIVE railway workers have been killed in Italy and a further two injured after being hit by a train whilst carrying out maintenance work.
The tragedy took place in the northern town of Brandizzo around midnight as the train transported wagons on the Milan-Turin line.
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Firemen on the scene recovered "human remains across 300 metres" Credit: EPA 3
Firemen and carabinieri stand at the train station of Brandizzo Credit: AFP
The train was not in commercial service but was travelling at a speed of 100mph when it hit the workers just before midnight.
Paolo Bodoni, the mayor of Brandizzo, told the AGI news agency an emergency worker had described to him a “chilling scene, with human remains across 300 metres”.
“It’s a huge tragedy,” he said, adding that an investigation was under way.
La Repubblica have reported that the internal railway line from Chivasso to Turin is currently interrupted as the fire brigade continue to recover remains.
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Police have confirmed that the workers were replacing parts of the track when they were hit, as reported by local outlet Ansa.
The workers were said to have been dragged for several metres before the train came to a halt.
The five victims, aged between 22 and 52, have been named by Italian media.
Michael Zanera, 34, Kevin Laganà, 22, and Giuseppe Lombardo, 52, were all from Vercelli.
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Giuseppe Sorvillo, 43, from Brandizzo and Giuseppe Aversa, 49, from Borgo d'Ale were the other two victims.
They were all employees of railway contractor Sigifer in Borgo Vercelli, La Stampa reports.
34-year-old Michael posted a haunting final social media post before his death, saying he had a premonition something would happen after seeing 'a crucifix appear in the track'.
He posted a short clip to TikTok a day before his tragic death showing a glowing red cross that had formed during the welding of railway tracks.
As reported by the Daily Mail, he wrote: "God definitely wants to tell me something,".
"It's the first time it's happened to me while welding the rail," the post said.
Ansa also states that the train driver was left in shock but otherwise unharmed.
He was allowed to go home after being treated on the scene.
However, the two colleagues working nearby who managed to avoid being hit are being treated for shock at a local hospital.
Mayor Bodoni said there were indications that the crew of the train was unaware there were workers on the tracks, reported La Stampa.
Speaking on the incident, he said: “Perhaps a communication error between the team on site and whoever was supposed to coordinate the work on the tracks.
“There was probably a human error, and I don't know if 160 kilometers per hour is the right speed for a train passing through the station.
"It's something I ask myself, as a citizen."
The leader of CISL, Italy’s second largest trades union confederation, was also left "outraged" at the lack of safety measures in place.
“It leaves us dismayed,” Luigi Sbarra said on social media.
“Five workers are dead, five families – to whom we send our condolences – have been destroyed by the lack of safety measures.
“This umpteenth tragedy is an outrage to all Italian workers.”
The Italian Railway Network have since released a statement following the incident.
It reads: "RFI expresses deep sorrow in the face of what happened and extends its condolences and closeness to the families of the deceased workers."
One local woman recalled the events to Corriere della Sera newspaper as she drunk at a nearby bar.
She said: “We were at the bar right in front of the station when we heard a loud noise, like an accident, but with something dragging something else behind it."
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Her boyfriend rushed to see what had happened and was faced with a horrifying scene.
“Now he’s in shock,” the woman said.
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The train was said to be going at 100mph when it hit the workers Credit: Rex