Three people have reportedly died and another is missing after a passenger train came off the tracks in Aberdeenshire in Scotland, amid heavy rain and flooding.
The driver and two passengers are reported to have been killed after the train hit a landslip at about 9.40am this morning.
Dozens of emergency service vehicles, including an air ambulance, attended the scene near Stonehaven where the ScotRail train crashed.
Rail industry sources told the PA news agency the suspected cause of the incident is a landslip.
A major emergency service response to a train derailment near Stonehaven. An air ambulance is in attendance. A lot of smoke is coming out of the tree line where the railway track runs. Ambulances arriving by the minute. https://t.co/LcOYUnlF8m pic.twitter.com/rioaSUUN94
Advertisement— Ben Philip (@BenPhilip_) August 12, 2020
The train involved was the 06.38 Aberdeen to Stonehaven, made up of a locomotive and four carriages.
It is understood the locomotive and three carriages derailed and slid down an embankment.
Unions called the crash a “tragedy” as a major incident was declared at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said: “My immediate thoughts and the thoughts of those across the chamber are with all those involved.”
Local MP Andrew Bowie said he had spoken to the UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who is liaising with Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail about the derailment.
He told the PA news agency: “It’s obviously a terrible situation, a train derailment, the emergency services are on the scene.
“I’ve already spoken to Grant Shapps, who has spoken to Network Rail and the British Transport Police, who are obviously investigating and assisting.
“I am aware that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has declared a major incident.”
Train operator ScotRail posted a message on Twitter shortly after 6.30am warning that services across Scotland would be disrupted due to “extremely heavy rain flooding”.
A video shared on Facebook at 7.30am shows heavy flooding in Stonehaven.
