A train derailment in northeastern Taiwan on Sunday killed at least 17 people and injured 126, government authorities said.

The accident took place on Sunday afternoon in Yilan County near the coast, with several carriages overturned on a railway popular among tourists.

“As of 6.30pm there are 17 dead on site and 126 people injured,” the Taiwan Railways Administration said in a statement, adding that the train had been moving between two stations in Yilan County before the derailment occurred.

Taiwan`s central government said that rescue services were at the scene and that the premier had been notified and was highly concerned over the safety of the travelers.

Taiwan`s Central News Agency reported that more than 30 people were still trapped in the train early on Sunday evening. </s> At least 17 people have died and 126 have been injured after a train derailed in northeastern Taiwan on Sunday.

Government authorities said the accident happened in Yilan County, with several carriages overturning on a coastal railway which is popular among tourists.

“As of 6.30pm there are 17 dead on site and 126 people injured,” the Taiwan Railways Administration said in a statement.

Taiwan’s central government said that rescue services were at the scene and that the premier had been notified and was highly concerned over the safety of the travellers.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that more than 30 people were still trapped in the train. </s> The government said the train had been carrying 366 people, and the Central News Agency said more than 30 were still trapped on board. (Photo: AP)

Taipei: At least 18 people died and 160 were injured when a train derailed in northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, authorities said.

Several carriages were overturned in the crash, which occurred in Yilan County near the coast on a line popular among tourists.

The government said the train had been carrying 366 people, and the Central News Agency said more than 30 were still trapped on board.

Footage on local TV showed rescuers and dozens of military personnel working through the wreckage on Sunday night in search of survivors, with ambulances stationed nearby.

The toll at 7:45 pm was 18 dead and 160 injured, the fire department said in a statement.

“We will use all our strength and efforts for the rescue,” President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page.

An investigation was under way to find out the cause of the accident, Taiwan Railways Administration said. “The train was in pretty good condition,” its Deputy Chief Lu Chieh-Shen told a news conference.

The authority was also checking to see if any foreigners were on board. </s> The accident took place in Yilan County. in northeastern Taiwan, when several train carriages overturned on a coastal railway.

The train, carrying more than 300 passengers, was headed towards Taitung, a city on the country's southeast coast.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is still underway. </s> The president of Taiwan is demanding a swift investigation into an express train derailment, which has killed 18 people.

187 others were injured in the crash yesterday.

The driver had reported a problem with a braking system, and some passengers say the train had been travelling too fast. </s> At least 17 people have died after a train derailed and flipped over in Taiwan.

Taiwan's Railway Administration confirmed 17 people were killed and 126 others were injured after the train derailed on Sunday.

At least five carriages had flipped over and were lying on their side.

Images from the site showed the high-speed Puyuma Express train completely derailed and lying zig-zagged across the track.

Taiwan authorities said the accident had happened at 4.50pm local time, with no cause yet given.

The National Fire Agency said there had been 310 people on board the service en route to the southern city of Taitung. </s> At least 17 people have died after a train derailed and flipped over in Taiwan.

The Puyuma express train was carrying more than 300 passengers when it went off the tracks on Sunday afternoon.

Taiwan's Railway Administration confirmed 17 people were killed and 126 others were injured

The railway administration, citing the fire department, said the 17 people died of cardiac arrest. The injured are being treated in four different hospitals.

At least five carriages had flipped over and were lying on their side.

Images from the site showed the high-speed Puyuma Express train completely derailed and lying zig-zagged across the track.

Taiwan authorities said the accident had happened at 4.50pm local time, with no cause yet given.

The National Fire Agency said there had been 310 people on board the service en route to the southern city of Taitung. </s> DONGSHAN TOWNSHIP, Taiwan — At least 22 people were killed and 171 others injured on Sunday when one of Taiwan’s newer, faster trains derailed on a curve along a popular weekend route, officials said.

The Puyuma express train was carrying more than 366 passengers from a suburb of Taipei in the north toward Taitung, a city on Taiwan’s southeast coast, when it went off the tracks at 4:50 p.m., the Taiwan central government said in a statement.

Hours later, one of the train’s eight cars was seen tipped over at about a 75-degree angle, with the entire right side destroyed. Firefighters with lights on their hard hats, fearing people may be trapped beneath the car, were looking underneath as a crane prepared to upend it.
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The National Fire Agency cited the Cabinet spokesman’s office as saying 22 people were killed and 171 injured in the disaster.

Some passengers were crushed to death, Ministry of National Defence spokesman Chen Chung-chi said. “Their train car turned over. They were crushed, so they died right away,” Chen said.

Soldiers have been removing bodies to identify them, he added, but nightfall was complicating rescue work.

Photos from the scene just south of the city of Luodong showed the train’s eight cars in a zig-zag formation near the tracks. Five of the cars are turned over on their sides.

Most of the deaths were in the first car, which flipped over, a government spokesman said.

It was unclear how many people may still be trapped in the train, said the spokesman, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. Some 120 soldiers joined firefighters in their rescue work.

On a live feed provided by Taiwan’s United Daily News, rescuers were seen carefully carrying what appeared to be a body wrapped in white plastic away from the site.

Local television reports said passengers were trying to escape through train windows and that bystanders had gathered to help them before rescuers arrived.

The Puyuma was launched in 2013 to handle the very difficult topography of Taiwan’s east coast and is distinct from the high-speed rail that runs on the west coast. The trains travel up to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour, faster than any other in Taiwan except for high-speed rail.

The train that derailed is six years old and its most recent inspection and major maintenance took place in 2017, Taiwan Railways Administration Director Lu Chie-shen said at a televised news conference.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment. </s> TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Eighteen people were killed and at least 160 others injured on Sunday when one of Taiwan's newer, faster trains derailed on a curve along a popular weekend route, officials said.

The Puyuma express train was carrying more than 366 passengers from a suburb of Taipei toward Taitung, a city on Taiwan's southeast coast, when it went off the tracks at 4:50 p.m., the Taiwan central government said in a statement.

The National Fire Agency cited the Cabinet spokesman's office as saying 18 people were killed and 160 injured.

Some passengers were crushed to death, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Chen Chung-chi said. "Their train car turned over. They were crushed, so they died right away," Chen said.

Soldiers have been removing bodies to identify them, he added, but nightfall was complicating rescue work.

Photos from the scene just south of the city of Luodong showed the train's eight cars in a zig-zag formation near the tracks. Five of the cars are turned over on their sides.

Most of the deaths were in the first car, which flipped over, a government spokesman said.

It was unclear how many people may still be trapped in the train, said the spokesman, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. Some 120 soldiers joined firefighters in their rescue work.

On a live feed provided by Taiwan's United Daily News, rescuers were seen carefully carrying what appeared to be a body wrapped in white plastic away from the site.

Local television reports said passengers were trying to escape through train windows and that bystanders had gathered to help them before rescuers arrived.

The Puyuma was launched in 2013 to handle the very difficult topography of Taiwan's east coast and is distinct from the high-speed rail that runs on the west coast. The trains travel up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, faster than any other in Taiwan except for high-speed rail.

The train that derailed is 6 years old and its most recent inspection and major maintenance took place in 2017, Taiwan Railways Administration Director Lu Chie-shen said at a televised news conference.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment.

Associated Press writer Yanan Wang in Beijing contributed to this report.

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At least 18 people are killed and 187 are injured after a train derails in Yilan County, Taiwan.