Taiwan train accident kills 18 people and injures 160 people

TAIWAN (AP) - Eighteen people were killed and at least 160 injured on Sunday when one of Taiwan's newest and fastest trains ran off a curve along a popular weekend route, officials said.

Taiwan's central government said in a statement that Buyaoma's express train was carrying more than 366 passengers from a suburb of Taipei in the direction of Taitung, a city on the southeastern coast of Taiwan, when it derailed at 4:50 pm.

A train heading from Taipei to Hualien derailed near Yilang county. 3 dead so far, 20 injured. I am on a delayed train heading towards Taipei in the opposite direction. https://t.co/I88pDyHt8x pic.twitter.com/Swl1NHo4ou

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) ٢١ أكتوبر ٢٠١٨

The National Fire Service quoted the Prime Minister's Office as saying that 18 people were killed and 160 injured.

Some of the passengers were crushed to death, said Chen Zhongzhi, spokesman for the National Defense Ministry. "Their train car overturned, they were crushed, so they died immediately."

He added that the soldiers were removing the bodies to identify them, but the night was holding the rescue work.

Photos from the scene to the south directly from Luodong City showed eight train cars in winding formation near the tracks. Five cars are running on both sides.

A government spokesman said most of the deaths were in the first overturned vehicle.

The spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not clear how many people were still trapped in the train. About 120 soldiers joined firefighters in their rescue work.

On live feed provided by United Daily News in Taiwan, rescuers were seen carrying carefully what appeared to be a body wrapped in white plastic away from the site.

Local TV reports said the passengers were trying to escape through the train windows and passersby gathered to help them before the arrival of rescuers.

Puyuma was launched in 2013 to tackle the extremely difficult terrain of Taiwan's eastern coastline, distinct from the high-speed rail on the west coast. Trains travel 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, faster than any other train in Taiwan except high-speed rail.

Taiwan Railways Director Lu Shi-shin told a televised news conference that the six-year-old rail derailed and the latest major inspections and maintenance in 2017.

Authorities are investigating the cause of derailment.