Taiwan passenger train derails, seasonal weather blamed

A passenger train derailed at noon Saturday in eastern Taiwan, but no casualties have been reported, according to the railway authority.

The second to seventh cars of Train 651, which was bound for Changhua County from Taitung County, derailed in Hualien County at 12:34 p.m. and the 50 passengers in these cars were unhurt, said Taiwan's railway administration.

The derailment halted train service between two nearby stations. A replacement bus service was provided.

The derailed cars and a 250-meter stretch of tracks were badly damaged, it added.

As of 6 p.m., the accident had delayed 17 trains, disrupting the travel plans of 2,740 passengers, said the administration.

It said the accident was initially believed to be caused by track buckling due to high temperatures.

An investigation has been launched.

The railway service is expected to return to normal after repair work is finished early on Sunday.

Many parts of the island have experienced scorching weather this month. The temperature in Taitung was 38.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the highest this year.

The temperature in Taipei hit 38.7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest in June for the city since weather-data collection began 120 years ago

source : xinhua