TAIPEI, Taiwan — A passenger train derailed in eastern Taiwan on Friday morning, killing at least 34 people, the authorities said, in the island’s deadliest railway accident in decades. The eight-car train came off the rails, causing several carriages to hit the walls of the tunnel, the government-run Central News Agency reported, citing the fire department. The Taroko Express train is one of the fastest in Taiwan and typically travels at around 80 miles per hour. Local news media reported that the train appeared to have collided with a construction vehicle, causing the derailment. A cellphone video filmed by a passenger showed what appeared to be a yellow trailer vehicle lying on its side next to the derailed train at the entrance to the tunnel.

Source: International New York Times April 02, 2021 03:00 UTC