Two cars of a passenger train have derailed in eastern Taiwan, killing 51 and injuring 146 among 496 people on board, according to the Taiwan Transport Ministry.
The incident reportedly occurred at 9.00 am local time inside the Daqing tunnel, when the second and the third cars came off the rails hitting the walls of the tunnel.
The train, bound for Taitung, was carrying 350 people. 60 people have already been rescued out of the first three cars, while the fourth and fifth car are seriously damaged.
The Central News Agency (CNA) earlier reported one death, adding that more people are feared dead as a result of the incident.
🇨🇳A train de-railed in a tunnel in Taiwan on Friday, with at least four people feared dead so far and more than 20 injured.
— CCTV Asia Pacific (@CCTVAsiaPacific) April 2, 2021
🇨🇳 台湾花莲一架列车出轨,目前已经造成20余人受伤,4人死亡 pic.twitter.com/jbtJSZhsh5
The rescue operation continues.