Passenger train derails in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, killing three, injuring others
A horrific passenger train derailment has claimed the lives of at least three people with reports of serious injuries, according to authorities at the scene. SEE THE PICTURES
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British transport police say three people have died and six were taken to hospital after a passenger train derailed in northeast Scotland amid stormy weather.
The train’s driver was among the dead in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning local time.
Multiple passengers were seriously injured in the incident which caused the train’s engine to reportedly erupt into a fireball and smoke to billow from the wreck.
Dramatic images show thick smoke over a woodland area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland after the horror unfolded at around 9.45am, local time.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the situation as an “extremely serious incident”.
“The emergency services are currently on site and a major incident has been declared,” Sturgeon said.
This is an extremely serious incident. I’ve had an initial report from Network Rail and the emergency services and am being kept updated. All my thoughts are with those involved. https://t.co/veKAgMwZ36
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 12, 2020
“I am afraid to say that there are early reports of serious injuries,” she added.
Ms Sturgeon added that the incident happened in an area where it was difficult for emergency services to access.
Some 30 emergency vehicles were attending the scene of the derailment.
Network Rail Scotland, the company which looks after the rail infrastructure, said it was working alongside emergency services.
“It is too early to confirm the exact nature and severity of the incident and more details will be made available once known,” it said.
Local MP Andrew Bowie said a “major emergency service response” was underway and he had spoken to the British transport minister, Grant Shapps, about the incident.
“Thoughts with every single person involved,” tweeted Mr Bowie.
Thunderstorms and torrential rain had battered parts of central and eastern Scotland overnight.
The derailment occurred on Wednesday morning on the line at Stonehaven, British Transport Police (BTP) said in a tweet.
We're currently responding to an incident on the line in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, where a train has derailed.
— British Transport Police (@BTP) August 12, 2020
Officers were called to the scene at 9.43am and remain there alongside paramedics and the fire brigade.
All further updates will be shared here.
There have been reports of serious injuries and the area had suffered from significant storms.
“Officers were called to the scene at 9:43am [local time] and remain there alongside paramedics and the fire brigade,” BTP wrote.
Union TSSA said the train was the 06:38 (05:38 GMT) service travelling from Aberdeen to Glasgow.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I am saddened to learn of the very serious incident in Aberdeenshire and my thoughts are with all of those affected. My thanks to the emergency services at the scene.”
Thunderstorms and torrential rain overnight created hazardous travelling conditions.
Photos posted on social media by local authorities showed heavy flooding in the nearby town of Stonehaven early Wednesday.
The local arm of Britain’s National Health Service said it was setting up “major incident support” in Aberdeen for relatives and friends of anyone involved in the incident.
The BBC reported that one casualty was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
Britain’s last major rail derailment was in 2007 in Cumbria, in northwest England, when a train on the main west coast line left the tracks, killing one passenger and seriously injuring 30 others.
More to come.
Originally published as Passenger train derails in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, killing three, injuring others