A Japanese commuter train has derailed and smashed into an apartment building, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 200.
The crowded seven-car train carrying at least 550 passengers during the Monday morning rush hour also hit an automobile at a road crossing near Amagasaki, 400 kilometers west of Tokyo.
The front car of the train, operated by West Japan Railway Company, plowed into the apartment building as two other cars left the tracks. Rescuers are trying to free several passengers trapped inside the cars. It is not yet clear if passersby and apartment residents were among the victims.
Authorities say they are investigating what may have caused the deadly accident near Osaka. The driver of the train was a 23-year-old man with 11 months experience.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
