Washington derailment – as it happened: Trump responds to fatal disaster by touting infrastructure plan before sending condolences
Our coverage of the train crash over busy road in Washington State
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Your support makes all the difference.There have been a number of deaths after an Amtrak train derailed on an overpass in Washington State, according to a spokesman for the local sheriff's office
The train derailed on a bridge over a major highway in DuPont, Washington - leaving it hanging over the Interstate 5. and blocking all southbound lanes.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said it had reports of both injuries and casualties. Among the injured were motorists who had been struck by the derailed cars, none of whom were killed.
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Washington Gov Jay Inslee offered a message of support to first responders and urged commuters to avoid the area.
“This is an ongoing and serious situation,” Mr Inslee said on Twitter.
In an image shared by the Washington State Department of Transportation, a train car can be seen hanging off of the tracks and protruding into the highway. The agency noted that all southbound lanes were blocked and urged commuters to avoid the area.
The Department of Homeland Security says that it is monitoring the situation in Washington State closely after an Amtrak train derailed there.
Multiple injuries have been reported, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has been briefed on the issue.
The governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has released a statement following the Amtrak derailment in his state.
The National Transportation Board has announced that it will investigate the passenger train derailment in Washington.
Both of Washington's senators have responded to the Monday train derailment outside of Seattle.
Seattle's Major League Baseball team has responded to the train derailment.
The mayor of Seattle, Jenny A Durkan, released a statement calling the passenger train derailment "horrific".
A local mayor had previously warned that a suggested rerouting of trains to the route that saw a train derailment outside of Seattle would be dangerous, and that injuries or death would likely occur.
Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson suggested earlier this month that it would only be a matter of time until the proposed track changes led to an injury. The train that derailed Monday was on its first-ever trip along the new route.
"Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens," Mr Anderson said during a hearing with Amtrak officials.
Monday was the first day that the Amtrak trains were set to be running along the new lines, which had previously only been used by regional commuter rail services. Mr Anderson had suggested that overpasses and other grade separations would be needed to avoid tragedy.
The Red Cross is mobilizing to help following an Amtrak train derailment in Washington State.
The Associated Press reports that there are "at least" six deaths following the Amtrak train derailment outside of Seattle.
Officials have confirmed that more than 70 people were transported to local hospitals after the incident.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency in two counties affected by the Amtrak train derailment, officials at the governor's office have told CNN.
The declaration will allow state agencies and departments to tap into resources to "do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the incidents," the proclamation reads.
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