Federal and local police said the cause of the crash near Riedlingen, roughly 158km west of Munich, remains under investigation. Photos from the scene showed parts of the train on its side as rescuers climbed atop the carriages.

It was not immediately clear how many people were injured. Roughly 100 people were on board the train when at least two carriages derailed in a forested area around 6.10pm local time (2.10am AEST).

Storms passed through the area before the crash and investigators were seeking to determine if the rain was a factor.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a post on social platform X, said he mourned the victims and gave his condolences to their families.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main national railway operator, said in a statement that it was cooperating with investigators. The company also offered its condolences.