Washington: At least five people were killed and 50 injured as a passenger train derailed in the US city of Philadelphia, a media report said today.
Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 travelling from Washington DC to New York City, carrying 238 passengers and five crew members, derailed at Port Richmond in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, NBC Philadelphia reported.
According to officials, eight to ten cars left the tracks near the 2000 block of Wheatsheaf Lane.
Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter confirmed the deaths during a news conference on Tuesday night.
"This was an absolute disastrous mess," Nutter said.
"I have never seen anything like it in my life. Many of these folks are not from Philadelphia."
The cause of the derailment is being investigated.
According to rescue officials, at least six of the survivors are in a critical condition.