Two Moroccans Crashed by Train Between Austria, Italy

Rabat – Bodies of two Moroccans aged 26 and 46 were found early Saturday, December 18, after being hit by a train in the city of Brenner, northern Italy, local media reported.

According to the Italian news outlet L’Adige, the incident took place three kilometers away from the Austria-Italy borders.

The victims are two migrants who were allegedly traveling on foot from Austria to Italy, following the railway.

The railway line was closed between Brenner and Vipiteno cities.

Italian authorities found Austrian asylum applications and temporary protection documents that had been granted to the two Moroccan migrants, the same source added.

The tragedy is said to have taken place on Saturday around 6:30 a.m., but the driver of the train involved in the accident did not notice anything, according to reports.

The driver of the next train saw the bodies at around 7:30 a.m. and notified the authorities.

The rescue teams of medical staff and firefighters were dispatched and a helicopter was called to the scene of the accident.

Brenner’s police station reported that the recovery of the victims’ bodies also required the temporary closure of the Brenner national road. The railway line was blocked from just before 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Although Morocco and the EU have been working together to prevent major irregular migration flows, it appears hard to slow down the phenomenon in a short period as many risk their lives to cross to Europe.

Last week, Spain’s Civil Guards recovered the body of a Moroccan migrant in the waters of the southern bay of Ceuta. Like many irregular migrants who have attempted the Morocco-Ceuta journey in recent years, the drowned migrant is believed to have died while trying to swim his way to the Spanish enclave.