Train Derailment
A passenger train derailed near the Moroccan capital Rabat on Tuesday resulting in several casualties. In this photo, Indian workers try to clear the tracks next to the derailed cars of a goods train near Panbari village on the outskirts of Guwahati in Assam state on Aug. 25, 2018. Getty Images/ Biju Boro

A passenger train derailed near the Moroccan capital Rabat on Tuesday, resulting in several casualties.

The train in question was on its way to Sale and Rabat from Kenitra, Morocco. According to Jon Haworth, a news editor at Newsweek, “10 people are dead and an estimated 90 others injured” as a result of derailment.

However, the deputy mayor of Sale Abdellatif Soudou confirmed to Moroccan news outlet Yabiladi at least five people died in the train accident while several others were injured.

Morocco's national railway operator (ONCF) said a team was on the scene of the accident and there were gathering more information regarding the incident.

Videos and pictures of the derailment started circulating around 10:30 local time (EDT) on both Facebook and Twitter:

Apart from passengers, the train conductor was also injured, according to Morocco World News. The news of the train derailment came amid anticipation of ONCF’s plan to launch Morocco’s high speed train (LGV) between Casablanca and Tangier.

LGV was expected to start operating by the end of 2018, following a series of tests that were being conducted since February last year.

This is a developing story

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