YILAN, TAIWAN — A train derailment in northeast Taiwan on Sunday afternoon killed at least 18 people and injured another 175, according to the authorities. <br /><br />According to The News Lens, the Puyuma Express was traveling from New Taipei City to Taitung City with 366 people on board when the accident occurred at 4:50 p.m. near the Xinma station near Su-ao in Yilan County. <br />All eight cars derailed with five overturning, according to the Taiwan Railway Administration, or TRA. <br />A majority of the casualties occurred in four carriages that flipped 90 degrees onto their sides, the News Lens reported TRA Director Lu Jieh-shen as saying at a press conference. <br /><br />Passengers said there were several instances of the emergency brakes being applied before hearing a "bump" immediately before the derailment, as reported by Taiwan's Apple Daily.<br />A total of 60 emergency response vehicles and more than 250 rescue personnel were dispatched to the crash site. <br />Officials are still unclear what caused the crash. According to the TRA, an investigation is underway to determine what caused the accident.
