At least five people were killed and 150 more injured when an Amtrak train carrying 243 people derailed just outside of Philadelphia Tuesday night, at around 9:30 p.m. ET, officials reported.
Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 was en route to New York City from Washington DC when the accident occurred, reports stated. At least six rail cars overturned as a result of the derailment.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter confirmed the latest count of the injured during a briefing Tuesday night.
"It is an absolute disastrous mess," said Nutter. "Never seen anything like this in my life."
The train began to tremble severely as it headed into a curve. Passengers noticed that the train began to decelerate when it reached the curve, as if someone had slammed on the brakes, said Paul Cheung, an Associated Press manager who was on the train.
"Then suddenly you could see everything starting to shake," he said. "You could see people's stuff flying over me."
The crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Railroad Administration sent a team to the crash site. The Philadelphia Police Department has dispatched more than 200 officers to the scene to assist the fire department and other first responders in the recovery effort.
Though the investigation has just begun, there's has been nothing to suggest that the derailment was anything other than an accident, an NTSB spokeswoman stated.
Those concerned about their loved ones who may have been on Amtrak Train 188 are encouraged to call 1-800-523-9101 for more information. Concerned parties may also seek out loved ones by visiting the following locations:
Webster School - 3400 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19134 - (215) 537-2525
St. Mark's Church, Frankford - 4442 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19124 - (267) 975-5390.
All Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia was cancelled late Tuesday night, and travel along the rail lines in the northeast corridor between New York and Philadelphia is suspended until further notice.
There's a curve RT @_magowan: Using Google Earth, here's turn Amtrak was about to make, and where the cars wound up. pic.twitter.com/cq9j0VcgOd — HughE Dillon (@iPhillyChitChat) May 13, 2015
