Taiwan Train Derailment Leaves 17 Dead and 126 Injured

A train has derailed in Taiwan, killing at least 17 and injuring some 126 others, according to Taiwan’s railway administration.

Puyuma Express 6432 went off the rails in Taiwan’s north-eastern county of Yilan, near Taipei, at about 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, according to the Straits Times, citing the semi-official Central News Agency.

The train is believed to have come off the tracks close to Xinma station, close to the town of Su'ao about 70km (43 miles) from the Taiwanese capital Taipei, the BBC reported.

At the time of reporting, an estimated 30 to 40 passengers remained trapped inside the overturned train carriages.

Footage captured at the site of the accident showed derailed train carriages laying on their side or heaped on top of one another. People can be seen standing nearby, looking on in shock.

Other video posted to social media showed rescue crews attending to the wreckage and survivors.

Rescuers can be seen helping survivors make their way out of the mangled carriages.

An injured survivor is shown being loaded onto a stretcher.

A woman can be seen clutching a small child and making a phone call.

Authorities said there were 310 people onboard, according to the report.

The train was traveling from Taipei’s Shulin station to the eastern coastal county of Taitung.