A train partially derailed along Taiwan's east coast on Friday, killing at least 48 people and injuring dozens.

The crash is the island's worst rail disaster in decades.

What we know so far

The incident occurred near the Taroko Gorge area at around 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT/UTC) on what is a public holiday in Taiwan.

Media outlets initially reported that around 350 passengers were on board. But Transport Minister Lin Chia-lung later told journalists on the scene that the train was actually carrying about 490 people.

Taiwan's National Fire Agency said at least 48 people were confirmed dead with 66 others sent to hospital.

The train was traveling from Taipei to Taitung when it came off the rails as it entered a tunnel, just north of the city of Hualien. Some carriages hit the wall of the tunnel as a result of the derailment, the fire department said.

Reports said the train smashed into a truck that fell down an embankment and landed on the tracks. 

"There was a construction vehicle that didn't park properly and slid onto the rail track," Hualien county police chief Tsai Ding-hsien told reporters.

"This is our initial understanding and we are clarifying the cause of the incident," he added. 

DW's Taiwan correspondent William Yang said "most of the deaths and seriously injured are all in cars seven and eight — that's initially where the inspectors believe that the truck hit."

Tsai Ing-wen: 'Heartbreaking'

President Tsai Ing-wen said she had ordered hospitals to prepare for a mass casualty event.

"Our emergency services have been fully mobilized to rescue and assist the passengers and railway staff affected. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure their safety in the wake of this heartbreaking incident."

Earlier, Tsai's office said in a statement: "The top priority now is to rescue the stranded people."

Taiwan's worst railway disaster in decades

Taiwan's mountainous east coast is a popular tourist destination, and the railway line from Taipei down the east coast is renowned for its tunnels and route that hugs the coastline.

Taiwan's last major rail crash was in October 2018 when an express train derailed while rounding a tight corner on the northeast coast, killing at least 18 people and injuring approximately 175.

In 1991, two trains collided in Miaoli County, western Taiwan, resulting in 30 fatalities and injuring more than 100.

jsi/nm (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)