Sunday the 21 Oct at 1650 hours an express train derailed and flipped over on a popular coastal tourist route in Taiwan, the island’s worst rail accident for more than 25 years. Images show the Puyuma Express train completely derailed with all eight carriages lying across the track in northeastern Yilan county. There were 366 people were on board the service on route to the southern city of Taitung.
There were five carriages overturned completely and reports state that this is where the deaths occurred. Authorities have not confirmed if any passengers remain trapped alive inside the train. Bodies were seen being carried out of the wrecked carriages by rescue workers. Cranes were brought in to lift the carriages from the tracks one by one overnight in a search for any remaining passengers. Video footage broadcast on local Taiwan television showed passengers smashing a window from inside and kicking it through to escape
One passenger told Apple Daily Taiwan that the train had put on its “emergency brake” twice on the journey and that the electricity supply had been patchy.
“The exact cause of the accident is pending investigation,” said Jason Lu Head of the Taiwan Rail Authority.
President Tsai Ing-wen described the accident as a “major tragedy” in a Tweet Sunday evening. “
My thoughts are with all the victims and their families,” she added.
Image for illustration purposes
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