[Latest developments]
11:20 p.m. ET: Amtrak shuts down rail service between Philadelphia and New York City for the night.
11:04 p.m. ET: Initial indications suggest there are at least 50 people injured in the Amtrak crash in the Philadelphia area, a U.S. law enforcement official said.
11:02 p.m. ET: The FBI is on the scene to assist in the investigation, but so far there is nothing to indicate the derailment was an act of terrorism.
[Full story]
At least 50 people are believed injured after an Amtrak passenger train, carrying about 200 people, derailed and tipped over in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
The Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York when it derailed north of the city of Philadelphia, Amtrak said. The company shuts down rail service between Philadelphia and New York City for the night.
About 200 people were on the train when it derailed, WPVI said. Initial indications suggest there were at least 50 injuries, a U.S. law enforcement official said.
Several hospitals in the Philadelphia reported receiving injured passengers.
“This is a nightmare and it can’t be happening,” a woman at the scene told CNN affiliate KYW. “We were in the front seat, and this huge red suitcase just came flying at me.
“I think I have a few fractured ribs,” she added. “But I tried to help … there are many, many injured people.”
The FBI was on the scene to assist in the investigation, but so far there is nothing to indicate the incident was an act of terrorism.
Word spreads
Word of the derailment quickly spread on social media, with posts on Twitter describing crews searching for wreckage and helicopters hovering overhead.
Video from CNN affiliates KYW and WPVI showed what appeared to be an overturned train car and people with flashlights searching the area.
Philadelphia police asked area residents to not crowd to the scene.
Former Congressman Patrick Murphy said on Twitter that he was aboard the train when it crashed. “Helping others,” he said. “Pray for those injured.”
Later he shared a photo that showed a firefighter inside the train.
On Instagram, another passenger posted video of what appeared to be a rescue in progress.
