At least three people have died and 50 were injured when a train derailed and toppled in Seattle, US.
Passengers were left trapped in the wreck as Amtrak train's carriages detached and toppled on Saturday as it lurched off the tracks during its journey through Montana headed for Seattle.
The Empire Builder train was pictured lying on its side after survivors described being rocked by what felt like 'turbulence' as the carriages suddenly veered off course.
The train was carrying about 141 passengers and 16 crew when eight carriages derailed as it travelled near the town of Joplin at around 4pm (MDT).
Passengers were among the injured after the train derailed in north-central Montana, an official at the local sheriff's office said.
Train passenger Megan Vandervest, who had been headed to visit a pal in Seattle, told the newspaper she was woken up by what felt like "extreme turbulence on a plane."
"My first thought was that we were derailing because, to be honest, I have anxiety and I had heard stories about trains derailing," Ms Vandervest said.
"My second thought was that's crazy. We wouldn't be derailing. Like, that doesn't happen."
She described carriages behind her tilting, and seeing three more behind her compartment "completely fallen off the tracks and were detached from the train".
Social media users posted photos of train carriages on their sides and luggage strewn on the trackside after the incident, as passengers who had fled the wreck stood beside the toppled compartments.
Rescuers were able to pull everyone trapped aboard the train from the carriages, but tragically three were unable to be saved and many more were injuries, authorities confirmed late on Saturday.
Amanda Frickel, the disaster and emergency services coordinator, told the New York Times said in an interview that “well over” 50 people had been injured.
The cause of the train's derailment was not immediately clear.
The National Transportation Safety Board said late on Saturday it will investigate the incident.
Although Amtrak derailments are rare, three people were killed in 2018 when one travelled on to the wrong track and struck a parked freight train.
Amtrak said some Empire Builder trains had been cancelled between several destinations on Saturday as investigations are opened into the incident.
Amtrak said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn local authorities are now confirming that three people have lost their lives as a result of this accident. There are also reported injuries among the passengers and crew members traveling on the train.
It continued: "Amtrak is working with the local authorities to transport those who were injured to medical care, and to safely evacuate everyone else at the scene."
