17 killed in Taiwan rail accident

At least 17 people died and 126 others injured after a passenger train derailed and flipped over in north-eastern Taiwan on Sunday.

The train, Puyuma Express 6432, bound for Taitung from Shulin, went off the tracks between the Dongshan and Suxin stations in Yilan County, near the country's capital Taipei, at around 5 pm (local time). There were reportedly over 300 people on board, according to authorities, The Straits Times reported.

In a statement, the Taiwan Railways Administration said, "As of 6.30 pm, there are 17 dead on site and 126 people injured." The Taiwanese government has been informed about the accident.

Images posted on social media showed five bogies of the eight-carriage train lying zig-zagged across the track. According to initial reports, firefighters, army troops and medical doctors rushed to the accident site to rescue and assist the passengers who are stranded in the carriages.

An eyewitness said that he heard strange noises before the train derailed and a plume of smoke rose from the tracks. He added that as the train flipped over, many things fell from the overhead compartments and the coach he was in was tilted by about 10 degrees.

Further details are awaited in the incident.