Several dead after Australian train crash
Several people were believed to be dead after a commuter train derailed south of Sydney, Australia, ambulance workers said last night.
Television reports said up to six people were killed and many more trapped and injured when at least two carriages left the rails in a steep ravine near the village of Waterfall, 20 miles south of the city centre.
Television images taken from the air showed rescue crews trying to get passengers out of the mangled wreckage of carriages torn apart by the impact.
A fleet of ambulances was waiting to ferry the injured to hospital but rescuers were having to walk to the tracks.
The train was travelling toward Sydney packed with commuters when the accident happened at about 7:30am local time in the Australian city’s Friday morning rush hour.
There was no immediate word on the cause.
Fire brigade spokesman Ian Krimmer said crews were heading to the scene.
“Access is our major concern,” he said, with the accident occurring on a section of track flanked by steep embankments.
Sky Television reported four carriages had left the rails. At least one was lying on its side almost at right angles to the tracks.
