At least 36 dead and dozens injured in train crash in Taiwan | NOW

At least 36 people were killed in a train crash in Taiwan on Friday, the Taiwanese transport ministry reports. 72 other travelers were injured in the accident. It was the worst train accident in Taiwan in more than three decades.

In total, the train carried around 350 passengers. They were on their way to Taitung, but the train derailed in a tunnel north of the eastern city of Hualien. Several cars collided with the walls on several occasions.

So far, rescue teams have been able to free between 80 and 100 people from the first four cars on the train, according to local authorities. However, it would be difficult to free the remaining passengers, as the four wagons they are in were damaged by the heavy crash to such an extent that rescue operations are made difficult.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Perhaps “a badly parked truck” would have driven on the track. A passenger reportedly made the same statement on national television.

Taiwan was last shocked by a serious train crash in 2018. Then 18 people died and 175 other travelers were injured when a train derailed in the northeast of the island.