US: 3 Killed, dozens injured in Amtrak Train Derailment in Montana

At least three people were killed as an Amtrak train that runs between Seattle and Chicago derailed in north-central Montana on Saturday afternoon (local time), said an official with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. There were approximately 147 passengers and 13 crew members onboard the train, Amtrak said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment also officials have not yet confirmed the total number of persons who were injured. According to reports, however, an emergency official said that "well over" 50 people were injured in the train derailment.

The Empire Builder train derailed at 4 p.m. near Joplin, a town of about 200, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement. The accident scene is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Canada.

Amtrak was working with the local authorities to transport injured passengers and safely evacuate all other passengers, Abrams added.