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At least six people have been killed and 150 more have been hospitalized or injured following Tuesday's Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood, according to the New York Times.
Northeast Regional Train 188 was bound for New York from Washington, D.C. when it derailed around 9:30 p.m. ET. The darkness hampered search and rescue efforts, but emergency personnel worked through the night to clear all seven derailed cars, some of which were overturned or on their sides.
The train's engine also derailed.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 that derailed north of Philadelphia Tuesday evening," said Amtrak in an updated statement issued early Wednesday morning. "We ask the news media to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families."
Amtrak confirmed that there were 238 passengers and five crew members aboard the train when it derailed.
The Associated Press provided an aerial survey of the wreckage:
Additionally, the rail operator announced that it would offer modified service between "Washington and Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and New York and Boston" on Wednesday as a result of the tragedy, which has limited train service in the Northeast region.
With rescue and cleanup efforts ongoing, the next step will be for officials to determine what went wrong.
"We do not know what happened here," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter via CNN. "We do not know why it happened." Nutter called the scene "an absolute disastrous mess."
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive at the scene on Wednesday to assist in an investigation into what caused Tuesday's deadly crash.
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