Train Disaster in Japan


(Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture) The Mainichi Daily News reports:

Forty-nine people died and over 200 people were injured after a high-speed JR train derailed here, overturning the first three carriages, one of which slammed into an apartment block, police said.

The accident occurred on the JR Fukuchiyama Line at about 9:20 a.m. on Monday. Many people remained trapped in one of the wrecked carriages early Monday afternoon and rescue workers surrounded the accident scene to pull them out.

The Japan Times reports:

At least 37 people were killed and nearly 240 others were injured when four cars of a seven-car express train derailed and two of them slammed into an apartment building Monday morning in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, police and firefighters said.

Almost 600 commuters were on the seven-car express train. West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) officials quickly apologized for the deaths and promised to release more information as the investigation ensues. Preliminary reports suggest that the train was a few minutes behind schedule and speeding to make up time. Witnesses said that the train driver applied the emergency brakes before the derailment, possibly to avoid hit a vehicle at a railroad crossing.