At least six fatalities have now been reported.
An Amtrak train carrying approximately 78 passengers and five crew members has derailed 64km outside Seattle, Washington state.
UPDATE: 78 passengers on board, 5 crew: multiple fatalities. #Amtrak Cascades Train 501 derailed south of Tacoma, Washington. pic.twitter.com/IAO6S58bd0
— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedyTV) December 18, 2017
The vehicle, Train 501, was on the maiden day of a new €150m high-speed service between Seattle and Portland and was travelling at 128kph at the time.
LISTEN: Harrowing radio transmission from Amtrak train derailment: "Amtrak 501. Emergency. Emergency. Emergency. We are on the ground." https://t.co/xyhXhfM7lI pic.twitter.com/WdpJWNaoKL
— ABC News (@ABC) December 18, 2017
It derailed while crossing a bridge over Interstate 5 near DuPont, Washington around 7:40am Pacific Time, causing at least one car to fall onto the freeway below.
Latest update regarding train 501: https://t.co/sn4sruYLbY pic.twitter.com/3Gt3fQXV99
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) December 18, 2017
The Seattle Times is reporting that at least six are dead. CBS News reports that a total of 77 patients are currently being treated for injuries, with four classed as critical.
It is believed that no motorists driving on the freeway were killed.
