Taiwan's worst rail disaster in decades shows infrastructure flaws

The poor safety record is out of character for the progressive, democratic society

20210405 taiwan derailment

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visits a victim of the train derailment at a hospital in Hualien, Taiwan on Saturday. (Source photos by Executive Yuan/AP and Taiwan Presidential Office)

KENSAKU IHARA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- A fatal train derailment near the eastern Taiwan city of Hualien has exposed flaws in the island's infrastructure.

More than 50 people were killed and nearly 200 injured in Friday's crash -- Taiwan's worst rail disaster in seven decades. Authorities said the derailment was caused by a construction truck sliding down a trackside cliff and colliding with the Taroko express train.

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