Taiwan: At least 34 people have died while more than 72 people sustained injuries on Friday after a train carrying some 350 passengers derailed at Qingshui tunnel in Taiwan.
The unfortunate incident occurred on the first day of a holiday period ‘Annual Tomb Sweeping festival’, a typically high traffic period.
As per reports, a truck fell from a cliff above and landed on the tracks, where the train emerging from a tunnel smashed into it.
Dozens of rescue teams and military vehicles reached the spot after getting information to carry out rescue operations.
The train was travelling south towards Taitung.
Photos of the incident show carriages crumpled together at the opening of the tunnel, and others ripped apart or crushed against walls inside the tunnel.
Some pictures from the scene showed passengers crawling out along the roof of a carriage which is stuck at the tunnel entrance.
Aerial footage of the 408 Taroko Express crash scene in Taiwan, from the fire department command centre. pic.twitter.com/bkqkIKeJBs
— heldavidson (@heldavidson) April 2, 2021
Taiwan's last major rail crash was in October 2018 when an express train derailed, killing at least 18 people and injuring nearly 200. However, the accident is being considered island’s deadliest rail disaster.
