At least four people were killed when a train derailed in southern Germany on Friday at around 12:15 local time (1015GMT), according to police and media reports.

A total of 60 people were affected by the accident, 30 of them injured, local media Merkur reported, adding 15 people were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Several carriages overturned and partly rolled down an embankment north of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort in the southern German state of Bavaria.

Local emergency services have been mobilized to the accident scene near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

It was not immediately clear what caused the train traveling toward Munich to derail.

Six helicopters, including three scrambled from the Austrian region of Tyrol, have been on the scene to assist as rescue efforts continue, reported Bild. 

Fire brigade, emergency doctors and police were on site with a large contingent.

The German railway service, Deutsche Bahn, said part of the route between Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been blocked off and traffic has been diverted. 

The Alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies near the border with Austria and is a popular destination for hikers in summer. The region is set to host the G7 summit of world leaders later this month, DW reported.