Turkish train derails

More than 140 people died when a new Turkish express train heading to Istanbul from the capital Ankara derailed yesterday, a provincial governor said.

Ayhan Cevik, governor of Bilecik province near the scene of the disaster, told CNN Turk television scores more were injured.

Witnesses earlier told CNN Turk around 40 people died. It was not immediately clear what caused the train to go off the tracks in the province of Sakarya in northwestern Turkey, but CNN Turk said a mechanical problem was suspected.

Officials said one of the rear wagons may have derailed first, causing the accident, the station said.

Four wagons were derailed, Ali Kemal Ergulec, the deputy general manager of the state railways, told NTV news channel.