61 hurt in Brazil train accident

Rio de Janeiro, April 17 (IANS/EFE) At least 61 people were hurt when a commuter train bound for downtown Rio de Janeiro went off the tracks, Brazilian firefighters said.

The accident occurred about 6.10 a.m. Friday.

A total of 61 people were treated at two hospitals near the scene of the accident for dislocations, scratches and minor injuries, the municipal health department said.

The train went off the tracks on a curve, apparently at high speed, for reasons still unknown.

The accident spread panic among hundreds of passengers who were on the train, and the confusion was taken advantage of by thieves to steal other people’s belongings.

–IANS/EFE