ANKARA, Turkey – A passenger train derailed in central Turkey early Sunday, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens, due to a damaged rail, transportation authorities said.
It was the nation's fifth major rail accident in less than four years.
A crack in a track caused two cars to derail and roll over at a turn near the city of Kutahya, transport officials said. The train was heading from Istanbul to the southern city of Denizli.
Authorities said the train was carrying 436 passengers. Thirty-seven passengers were injured.
In November 2005, a passenger train rammed into a truck carrying farm workers in southern Turkey, killing nine people and injuring 30 others. In August 2004, a passenger train ignored a stop signal and rammed into an oncoming train in northwestern Turkey, killing six people and injuring 85.
The previous month, a newly inaugurated high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara derailed, killing 37 people. Three days later, a passenger train slammed into a minibus at a western railroad crossing, killing 15 and injuring four.
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