Death toll rises to 24 in Turkey train derailment – deputy PM

People and rescuers carry an injured woman after a train accident at Corlu district in Tekirdag, on July 8, 2018. AFP

Istanbul, Turkey – Twenty-four people were killed when a train derailed in northwest Turkey this weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag said on Monday, a sharp jump from the previous toll of 10.

The state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Akdag as saying search operations this morning had now been completed at the wreck of the train, which derailed early Sunday evening in the Tekirdag region while heading towards Istanbul.

Turkish media quoted Health Minister Ahmet Demircan as saying 338 people required hospital treatment after the accident with 124 still hospitalized.

Reports said that the train, carrying 362 passengers, had derailed as recent heavy rain caused the ground beneath the track to erode.

Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan said the latest checks on the rails had been made in April, Anadolu reported.   /kga