Dozens killed in Turkey derailment

[Kellanved]

ANKARA, Turkey -- Dozens of people have been killed and many others injured after a high-speed train derailed in northwestern Turkey, according to media reports.

Four of the train's cars overturned near Pamukova in Sakarya province, the private NTV television station reported. The cause of the accident was not known.

About 30 people were killed in the accident, The Associated Press reported, quoting hospital officials. Another 30 people were injured, the official said.

Other reports put the death toll even higher, with a Turkish governor saying as many as 70 people may be dead, AP reported.

...
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/22/turkey.train.accident/

Edit: changed story to CNN source.

[Old_Growth]

1. Update

Death toll now at 139. Very few uninjured that survived.

Over a half the passengers killed, that's a major train accident.

[neomonkey]

2. Hmmm

...gee does Turkey have an upcoming election shortly...?

[VolcanoJen]

3. Kick... tragic story lost in the rest of today's tragic news.

:-(

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. authorities were not ruling out sabotage

....authorities were not ruling out sabotage.

“We are assessing every possibility,” he said.

The high-speed train began operating on June 4 amid controversy, with critics saying that the tracks were old and could not withstand the new trains.

Mr Ergulec said the train would have been travelling at a normal speed in the area because the tracks at Pamukova were not geared to carry high-speed trains....

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3242263