Amtrak Train Crashes in Philadelphia; 5 dead, 53 injured

Port Richmond, May 13: At least 5 people were killed and close to 53 injured when an Amtrak train derailed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter said,"It is an absolute disastrous mess. Never seen anything like this in my life."

The train derailed at 9:30 pm on Tuesday with 238 passengers and 5 crew members onboard. According to the fire department, all the 53 injured and the 6 critical have been transported to the local hospitals-Temple University Hospital, Area Health Torresdale, Hahnemann University Hospital, and Einstein Medical Center.

Apart from that, 15 SEPTA buses were rushed to help the victims.

Mayor Nutter further added,"The trains, 7 cars including the engine are in various stages of disarray, turned over, upside down, on their side. We are still investigating what's going on."

About 33 fire apparatus, 122 personnel and 18 medical units are working in the rescue operation of the victims. All the Amtrak train services had been cancelled for the rest of the night. Government authorities, meanwhile released helpline numbers for the family and friends of the victims.

One of the eyewitnesses said,"Basically the train tilted over and rolled. It appeared it went off the tracks. The front of the train looks pretty bad. Some people were mangled up."

The cause of the crash is unknown; however, this is not a standalone case as the train has met with several accidents in the past too.

OneIndia News