A tram derailment has left at least 20 people injured in Germany.
Emergency services were called to the Neu-Hohenschönhausen neighbourhood of north-eastern Berlin earlier this morning.
The tram on the M17 line hit a power pole and was torn open at around 9.30am, according to local media reports.
The CEO of the Berlin public transport company (BVG) spoke from the scene of the crash shortly after 11am, reports the Mirror.
Policemen stand in front of the damaged tramway -Credit:Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images
Transport boss Henrik Falk told reporters: “We are deeply saddened by the images we have seen here.
“Our thoughts are with the injured and our passengers.”
He continued: “The cause of the accident still needs to be clarified.
“Whether technical or human error or a medical emergency triggered the accident, we cannot say at the moment.”
A fire department spokesperson said an emergency call was received by the fire department’s control center at 9:29 am.
“A tram was traveling on Wartenberger Straße near Arnimstraße when a section of the train apparently derailed,” they explained.
“Fortunately, none of the train parts toppled over.”
A policeman walks past a damaged tramway -Credit:Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images
A section of the train collided with a power pole and was torn open, according to German news website bz-berlin.de.
The fire department was on scene with 51 personnel.
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According to a fire department spokesperson, three passengers sustained serious injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries.
Twelve people were taken to hospitals.
Transport officials sent emergency workers to the scene to shut off power to the tram while replacement busses have been set up after lines M5 and M17 were taken out of action following the crash.