One person has died with about 30 people injured after a passenger train derailed in the western Netherlands.
Emergency services say the overnight crash happened after the train transporting about 50 people hit a construction crane near the village of Voorschoten.
According to the Netherlands authority, a freight train is also reported to have been damaged in the collision. Some people were treated at the scene, and 19 were taken to the hospital.
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The crash happened at about 03:25 local time (01:25 GMT) Tuesday. Pictures from the site showed overturned carriages and a plume of smoke rising into the sky.
Several investigations have been opened into the incident, including by ProRail – the governmental body responsible for the country’s rail networks.
The nearby Leiden Central Station, which lies between The Hague and Amsterdam, has been closed. No trains to and from the city are expected to run until at least 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
“This is an incredibly tragic accident,” Voorschoten Mayor Nadine Stemerdink said. “We regret there was also a fatality. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends of those involved.”
The country’s Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has expressed his condolences, as have the King and Queen. The Netherlands Authority has tasked investigators to speed up the investigations.
“Our thoughts are with the victims of the train accident at Voorschoten and their families,” a statement from the Royal House reads. Many are now in fear and uncertainty. We deeply sympathise with all of them. Follow US for more exclusive news updates on all social media platforms.
