Taiwan train derailment kills 18 and injures more than 170
All eight carriages of the train came off the rails on line popular with tourists
At least 18 people have died and more than 170 were injured when an express train derailed in northeastern Taiwan.
The Puyuma service, one of the fastest trains in Taiwan, was carrying 366 passengers at the time of the accident, the worst rail accident in the country in 27 years, says Channel News Asia.
All eight carriages of the train came off the rails, with five of those overturning, Taiwan’s transport ministry reported.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Most of the fatalities occurred in the first carriage, according to local authorities. CNN reports that among the dead are eight members of the same family, who were “travelling back from a wedding in New Taipei city”.
Sky News reports that one passenger said the train had been “shaking during the journey”, although Lu Chieh-Shen, deputy chief of the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), insisted the train was in “pretty good condition”.
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, took to social media to say that she was “deeply saddened” by the “major tragedy”.
“I mourn and offer condolences to the families of those who died, and wish that those injured can quickly get well,” she said in a Facebook post. “Let us give support together to those who are providing disaster relief on the front line.”
The accident in Taiwan comes just days after at least 58 people were killed by a train at a level crossing in northern India, where they had gathered to watch celebrations for Dussehra, a Hindu festival.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published