US train derailment toll stands at eight

Investigations have revealed that the train was travelling at a speed exceeding 160 kmph, double the permitted velocity along a stretch of track approaching a curve

The body of an eighth victim was found among the wreckage of an Amtrak Passenger train that derailed in Philadelphia earlier this week, authorities announced.

City Mayor Michael Nutter said at a press conference on Thursday that emergency crews believe they have accounted for all the people who were on board the train, including the crew, when the train derailed on Tuesday night en route from Washington to New York, Efe news agency reported.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the accident, the train was travelling at a speed exceeding 160 kmph, double the permitted velocity along a stretch of track approaching a curve.

Several media outlets identified the train's engineer as Brandon Bostian, 32, who has worked in that capacity since 2009.

According to what Bostian's lawyer, Robert Goggin, told ABC television, the engineer "has absolutely no recollection of the incident or anything unusual".

"The next thing he recalls is being thrown around, coming to, finding his bag, getting his cell phone and dialling 911," said the attorney.

The NTSB is examining the train's so-called "black box" to determine what happened, and Bostian -- meanwhile -- insists that he cannot be of any help in the investigation.

Besides the eight people killed in the mishap, more than 200 were injured. A total of 238 passengers and five crew members were on board the train when it went off the tracks.