YILAN, TAIWAN — A train derailment in northeast Taiwan on Sunday afternoon killed at least 18 people and injured another 175, according to the authorities.
According to The News Lens, the Puyuma Express was traveling from New Taipei City to Taitung City with 366 people on board when the accident occurred at 4:50 p.m. near the Xinma station near Su-ao in Yilan County.
All eight cars derailed with five overturning, according to the Taiwan Railway Administration, or TRA.
A majority of the casualties occurred in four carriages that flipped 90 degrees onto their sides, the News Lens reported TRA Director Lu Jieh-shen as saying at a press conference.
Passengers said there were several instances of the emergency brakes being applied before hearing a "bump" immediately before the derailment, as reported by Taiwan's Apple Daily.
A total of 60 emergency response vehicles and more than 250 rescue personnel were dispatched to the crash site.
Officials are still unclear what caused the crash. According to the TRA, an investigation is underway to determine what caused the accident.
