One Killed as Passenger Train Derails in Norway

Alsharq Tribune - TAS

A passenger train derailed in northern Norway on Thursday, leaving one person dead and four injured, Norwegian police said, according to broadcaster TV2. Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said there were between 50 to 70 passengers on board, fewer than the 90 that had first been reported by train operator SJ, based on ticket sales. A locomotive and several train carriages had derailed, police said on its news notification service. Live TV showed a locomotive lying on its side after sliding down a hillside and several train carriages were also derailed. The train derailed between Bjerka and Mo i Rana in northern Norway at around 1215 GMT, as it was heading towards the city of Bodoe from Trondheim in central Norway, according to the train operator's website. One of the passengers, Ingvart Strand Mølster, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that “a rock has hit the train." Strand Mølster said no one in his train carriage was hurt, with the exception of one person who suffered a minor ankle injury. Another passenger told the local newspaper Avisa Nordland that people were evacuated out through the windows.