Rescue crews in world-regions are responding Friday to a train derailment on its scenic east coast that killed at least 48 people and prompted dozens of passengers to crawl out of windows to safety, reports say.
The disasters” rel=”noreferrer noopener” target=”_blank”>rail disaster<
Rescue workers recover a body from a derailed train near the Taroko Gorge area in Hualien, Taiwan, on Friday. (AP)
The stretch of track where the orange-striped train came to a halt hugs the coastline. Yellow and red police tape marked the area of the crash, where tents had been set up and dozens of rescuers and officials had converged.
Taiwan is a mountainous island, and most of its 24 million people live in the flatlands along the northern and western coasts that are home to most of the island’s farmland, biggest cities and high-tech industries. The lightly populated east is popular with tourists, many of whom travel there by train to avoid mountain roads.
An investigation has been launched into the crash, and there was no immediate word about any arrests.
In a tweet, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said emergency services “have been fully mobilized to rescue & assist the passengers & railway staff affected. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure their safety in the wake of this heartbreaking incident.”
The crash came on the first day of the four-day Tomb Sweeping Festival, an annual religious holiday when people travel to their hometowns for family gatherings and to pay their respects at the graves of their ancestors.
Rescue workers gather near one end of the train involved in a derailment. (AP/Executive Yuan)
GENDER REVEAL TRAGEDY: 2 KILLED IN PLANE CRASH OFF CANCUN COAST
Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said the Railways Administration would be required to immediately conduct checks along other track lines to “prevent this from happening again.”
About 50 volunteers from the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation stationed at an aid tent near the crash site said children were among the dozens who escaped the train cars. They were treating minor wounds and offering lunches.
“We see people coming off the train and they look shaken and nervous,” said Chen Tzu-chong, a Tzu Chi team leader on site.
Taiwan’s last major rail crash was in October 2018, when an express train derailed while rounding a tight corner on the northeast coast, killing at least 18 people and injuring nearly 200.
A passenger, center, is helped to climb out of the derailed train. (AP/hsnews.com.tw)
In 1991, a collision in western Taiwan killed 30 people and another crash a decade earlier also killed 30. Those were said to be the worst previous crashes on the rail system that dates from the late 19th century.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Taiwan’s extensive rail system has undergone substantial upgrades in recent years, particularly with the addition of a high-speed line connecting the capital Taipei with west coast cities to the south.
The train involved in Friday’s derailment, the Taroko No. 408, is one of Taiwan’s newer models.
Fox News’ Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.