According to the police, four people, including the tram driver, were lightly injured. All were sent to the emergency room.
The tram has now been removed from the store.
Further down in this article, you can read:
- The tram is being rescued from the building
- Witnesses’ description of the accident
- The tram driver has been designated as a suspect
- Sporveien and Ruter about the accident
- Incident commander on site
The incident commander in Oslo Fire and Rescue, Bjørn-Kristian Bratlie, says that it was a lot of work to get the tram out.
The tram crashed into the store Eplehuset located at Storgata 17. The accident occurred around 11 AM on Tuesday morning.
By 5 PM, the tram had been removed and was standing on the street.
– We had to free some brakes and remove a column that the tram was resting on, says fire chief Bjørn-Kristian Bratlie.
He states that the building owner has skilled personnel to check what kind of damage the building may have sustained. The tram itself is the responsibility of Sporveien.
– We need to get the tram on track and see if it can be transported away. If that is not possible, they have a plan to take it away in pieces, says Bratlie.
Suda Saenram was a passenger on the tram when it derailed. She describes the accident as a frightening experience.
The police emphasize that the cause of the accident is still unknown.
Saenram recounts that she felt the tram was going fast. She thought the driver was braking, but then the tram derailed.
– There was a woman who flew forward and hit the seats further up in the tram, she says, adding:
– And then there was a stroller that was in the middle of the tram. It flew forward.
Saenram says another person took the child in their arms while the mother lay on the tram floor.
The woman who fell was reportedly conscious.
– It was a bit traumatic. I heard screams and was close by, but I didn’t see any blood.
Saenram was seated some distance behind in the tram.
Was going to pick up an order
Charith Ranatunga was on his way to pick up an order when he witnessed the accident.
– I saw the tram speeding straight into the building, then I heard a big bang.
He describes the scene as chaotic.
– There was so much dust, we could barely see anything, he says, adding:
– We saw many adults and children crying. A woman came out with a baby and was crying.
I told them to come with full force
Mohsin Muneer owns a 7-Eleven in Storgata. He reports that he was standing outside the store when he heard the tram coming at high speed and smashing into Eplehuset.
– I called the police and asked for help, saying they needed to come with full force.
Muneer then ran into the tram.
– By then, 3-4 people were taking care of the driver, and I helped to secure the tram and get the passengers out.
Sitting in the office when he heard a scream
Danilo Henriques works in Storgata and says he heard a scream from his office. When he looked out the window, he saw the tram coming directly into Eplehuset, he recounts.
– I called the fire department and ran down.
Henriquez says that several people had gotten into the store to look for the injured.
– It’s incredible that it has gone as well as it has, and that no one was run over.
– Chaos
– People are confused, several around here have been crying. It’s a scary situation.
That’s what witness Christoffer Solbakken says. He reported that there were many people in the area.
– Now it’s very chaotic. There are many police cars, fire trucks, and lots of people who don’t quite understand how to get past this junction, says Solbakken.
The tram driver has been designated as a suspect following the accident.
– The police have opened a case and are now in the early stages of the investigation, Oslo police stated in a press release.
They are working to find out what may have led to the tram derailing and crashing into the store.
The police are gathering information and going through witness statements and video material from the scene in addition to technical investigations.
Photo: Tom Balgaard / NRK
The National Accident Investigation Board has conducted technical investigations. The Railway Inspectorate tells NRK that they are not conducting their own investigations.
They will obtain information from the accident investigation board and Sporveien, which is trying to map out what has happened.
Sporveien operates the trams in Oslo.
– We are very affected by the dramatic images, says communications advisor Tone S. Tuhus at Sporveien.
She states that it was surreal to see a tram in this condition.
– We are cooperating with the police, health services, and other emergency services to get to the bottom of why this could happen.
There are many emergency services on site after the tram derailed in Storgata.
Photo: Tom Balgaard / NRK
– This is extremely rare. We at Sporveien take safety very seriously. I can’t remember anything like this happening before, says Tuhus.
Storgata was closed between Hammersborggata, Kirkeristen, and Biskop Gunnerus’ gate.
– All traffic through Storgata is stopped, said spokesperson Øystein Dahl Johansen at Ruter after the accident.
The advice for travelers is to follow Ruter’s website for more information.
According to incident commander Anders Rønning at Oslo police, the emergency services were quickly on site.
– There were a lot of people on board the tram, and they evacuated themselves.
The emergency services feared that some people had ended up under the tram as it drove onto the sidewalk and into the store in Storgata.
– It must have been traumatic to have a tram come through the glass facade of the store, says the incident commander at the police.
Published
29.10.2024, at 11:13 AM
Updated
30.10.2024, at 2:16 PM
The passage describes a serious tram accident that occurred in Storgata, where a tram collided with the Eplehuset store. Several witnesses recount their experiences during the incident.
Mohsin Muneer, a 7-Eleven owner nearby, heard the tram’s high-speed approach and quickly called the police to request immediate assistance. He then rushed into the tram to help the injured and secure the scene.
Danilo Henriques, another witness, heard a scream and witnessed the tram crashing into the store from his office. He contacted the fire department and joined others in searching for any injured individuals inside Eplehuset.
Christoffer Solbakken described the scene as chaotic, with people confused and many emergency vehicles responding to the incident. Witnesses highlighted the emotional impact of the situation, noting that it was remarkable that no one was run over during the crash.
The police have designated the tram driver as a suspect and have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment and collision. They are reviewing witness statements and video footage while conducting technical investigations.
The National Accident Investigation Board is also involved, conducting their own inquiries, whereas the Railway Inspectorate is gathering information but not initiating a separate investigation. Sporveien, the company operating the trams in Oslo, expressed its distress at the incident and is collaborating with emergency services to understand its cause.