Politics

Train derails in Turkey’s Tekirdag, kills over 20 and injures dozens: Official

At least 24 people were killed in northwestern Turkey when a train headed from Edirne to Istanbul derailed, local state-media quoted Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag as saying on Monday.

Sangar Ali 2018/07/09 06:30

middle east Turkey Train Tekirdag

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – At least 24 people were killed in northwestern Turkey when a train headed from Edirne to Istanbul derailed, local state-media quoted Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag as saying on Monday.

Search and rescue operations in the region finished as of 6:00 am local time, Turkish Anadolu Agency reported.

Nearby hospitals were still treating 124 people wounded in Sunday’s late-night train accident, Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan told reporters.

The train was carrying 362 passengers and six staff members at the time of the accident when five carriages derailed near the Sarilar village of Tekirdag’s Corlu district on Sunday.

Tekirdag’s Governor, Mehmet Ceylan, said heavy rains in the area caused the accident.

The Ministry of Transport later confirmed it in a statement that explained the accident occurred after the railway track slipped down from its original position due to torrential rains.

In a separate statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the train accident is being thoroughly investigated.

Editing by Nadia Riva