AN Amtrak train derailment in Montana has reportedly killed at least three people and left 50 injured after seven railroad cars detached and toppled over at the “gory” scene.
Shocking pictures of the accident revealed the wreckage as unconfirmed reports of passengers “trapped and injured under the cars” circulated on social media on Saturday evening.
People were pictured standing on top of the toppled carsCredit: Twitter/ @jacob_cordeiro
The sheriff’s office confirmed there were people injured but declined to provide any details
Police flocked to the scene in Montana this eveningCredit: Twitter / @jacob_cordeiro
The train derailed in the small town of Havre at around 4pm local time, Amtrak confirmed.
One person who was sleeping when the train derailed, told an Al Jazeera journalist she awoke to find a “‘gory’ scene in other coach cars.”
Havre Daily News reported that there were three people dead, according to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly before 10pm ET, CBS journalist Errol Barnett also reported that at least three passengers had lost their lives in the carnage, while multiple others were injured.
“There are a lot of people in the little town with no where to go,” one shaken passenger told him.
Amtrak announced there were unspecified injuries, noting that there were 146 passengers and 16 crew members onboard when seven of the ten cars derailed
The company said it was working with local authorities to transport people and “evacuate all other passengers.”
‘AT LEAST 50 HURT’
It’s not clear how many were injured. The New York Times reported that at least 50 passengers were hurt.
Havre police told The Sun on Saturday the incident was “out of our jurisdiction.”
The Liberty County sheriff’s office said: “I’m sorry we have two phone lines coming out of this little tiny office and we have [a lot of] stuff going on here – I haven’t got time to deal with reporters.”
The person manning the phones confirmed that there were injuries but didn’t specify how many or how seriously hurt these passengers were.
The phone number for Chester West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department was engaged at 8.27pm ET.
At around 11pm ET, Amtrak released another statement that Empire Builder train services between Minot, North Dakota, and Shelby, Montana, were canceled in the wake of the Havre derailment.
‘WE DERAILED’
Twitter user Jacob Cordeiro, who appeared to be posting photos from the scene, shared images and noted “we derailed.”
“Do you have any idea what will be done? My mom is on the train,” one concerned person replied.
“Yes please any information is appreciated as I also have family on that train and haven’t been told what will be done,” shared another.
“That’s the info I’m looking for as well. They’re in the middle of nowhere and I’m hoping someone is coming for those who are ok soon too…” commented a third.
‘MIDDLE OF NOWHERE’
Evening Meteorologist for KRTV and KXLH Ryan Dennis highlighted the remote location of the incident.
“The problem is that this is in a remote location,” he noted. “Great Falls is the biggest city nearby, which is nearly 2 hours away.
“Also, poor cell phone service in the area where the derailment occurred.”
He has since tweeted that passengers were being taken to the senior center and the high school in Chester, Montana, by bus.
When one worried person tweeted to ask if the cars had separated from the rest of the train, Cordeiro confirmed that they did.
Amtrak has asked anyone with friends and family onboard to call 800-523-9101.
Passengers carrying bags are pictured at the sceneCredit: Twitter / @newsbyjessica
Shocking pictures revealed the damageCredit: Twitter / @jacob_cordeiro
Twitter pictures revealed the extent of the accidentCredit: Twitter / @jacob_cordeiro
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