Investigators believe a landslide, brought on by heavy rainfall, likely caused a regional train to derail in southern Germany, killing three people and injuring 41 more.

More than 100 people were aboard the Deutsche Bahn train when at least two carriages derailed Sunday evening in a forested area near Riedlingen, about 158 kilometres west of Munich.

The train's driver, another employee and a passenger were killed, police said early Monday. Some of the 41 injured were seriously hurt.