Passenger Train Derailed By Debris In Hunan Province

A passenger train derailed after striking debris from a landslide in Hunan province on Monday, injuring a number of passengers and staff, officials said.

The accident happened around midday in a rural area and came after recent heavy rains triggered landslides there, the state-run railway system said.

The statement said one carriage caught fire and five derailed. An unspecified number of staff and passengers were sent to hospital for treatment.

There were no immediate reports of deaths.

Unverified video posted on social media sites showed at least three carriages lying on their side and smoke rising from a fire in the distance.

The train was travelling from the eastern city of Jinan to Guangzhou.

Southern, eastern and central parts of the mainland have been soaked by steady rains since last week. (AFP)