Amtrak Train Derails In Philadelphia, Killing At Least Five And Injuring Scores

An Amtrak passenger train with more than 200 passengers on board derailed in north Philadelphia on Tuesday night, killing at least five people and injuring scores of others, several of them critically, authorities said. Reuters was there:

Authorities said they had no idea what caused the train wreck at about 9:30 p.m. local time that left some rail cars mangled, ripped open and strewn upside down and on their sides in the city’s Port Richmond neighborhood along the Delaware River. Survivors described scenes of horror and chaos as passengers and luggage were tossed about careening train carriages.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter told a news conference that at least five people were killed in the accident. He later said 65 others were taken to area hospitals, six of them critically injured. Philadelphia-area hospitals and health systems collectively reported taking in 135 patients from the wreck. “It’s an absolute disastrous mess,” Nutter said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”

Amtrak said there were 238 passengers and five crew members aboard the derailed No. 188 train on route from Washington, D.C., to New York. Seven cars, including the engine, left the tracks, according to the mayor.