Tokyo: At least four passengers were killed and 33 injured when an express train derailed after encountering strong winds during a blizzard in north Japan on Sunday.
Reports say that blizzard winds at 90 km an hour hit the train while crossing a bridge over the Mogami River. The train was heading towards Niigata from Akita in north Japan. The six-coach train toppled over with some of the carriages smashing into a farm building.
Rescue workers are battling heavy with snow and winds to rescue passengers trapped in the train.
Rescuers crawled through the mangled carriages to recover four bodies. Thirty-three people were injured.
“We have seen a lot of car accidents in this town, but this is the first time we are seeing a train accident like this,” fire department official said.
The train was carrying 44 passengers and two crew members.
"Sudden wind and snow blew from the right side after crossing the bridge, and the train leaned to the left. The compartments blackened and I could not confirm where I was," the police quoted the train driver as saying.
Comments
0 comment