A US passenger train on its inaugural run in Washington state has derailed, with carriages crashing on to the motorway below at the height of the morning rush hour.
Police say there were "multiple" fatalities on board the train, which hit vehicles on the I-5 highway below.
Images from the scene show that all the carriages of the high-speed train appear to have left the track.
It was Amtrak's first passenger service to run on a new, shorter route.
Train 501 had left Seattle, heading south for Portland, at 06:00 local time (14:00 GMT). The derailment happened on a section of track, south of Tacoma, previously only used for freight trains.
Reports suggest 77 people have been taken to hospital.
An official quoted by Associated Press spoke of six people killed.
Several cars on the highway were struck by the derailed carriages. Aerial images show the train's carriages littered across the ground, on both sides of the bridge carrying the railway over the motorway.
Image copyrightREUTERS
Pierce County Sheriff's department spokesman Ed Troyer said there were "multiple" fatalities on the train but no motorists had been killed.
The fire department had taken many people out of the train and they had been transported to hospitals, he added.
President Donald Trump's first reaction to the derailment was to tweet that it showed the need for his forthcoming infrastructure plan.
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Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!
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">https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/942827072824672262" class="off-screen" tabindex="-1">End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump— (@realDonaldTrump) End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump">He later added that his thoughts and prayers were with those involved.
Washington's governor has declared a state of emergency in two counties.
Image copyrightWASHINGTON STATE PATROL
Passenger Chris Karnes, on board the train, said his carriage had careened down an embankment then come to a stop: "We could hear and feel the cars crumpling and breaking apart, and water came out from the ceiling."
"In order to get out... we had to kick out the emergency window," he added.
Amtrak said approximately 78 passengers and five crew members had been on board the train.
Governor Jay Inslee said he was praying for the many injured.
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Governor Jay Inslee
✔@GovInslee
Today’s tragic incident in Pierce County is a serious and ongoing emergency. Trudi and I are holding in our hearts everyone on board, and are praying for the many injured.
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">https://twitter.com/GovInslee/status/942815749227216901" class="off-screen" tabindex="-1">End of Twitter post by @GovInslee— (@GovInslee) End of Twitter post by @GovInslee">Officials have set up a family reunification centre at DuPont city hall, and asked people not to come to the scene of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. — (@PierceSheriff) Skip Twitter post by @PierceSheriff ">
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Pierce Co Sheriff@PierceSheriff
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment
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