A train has derailed in Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, following heavy rain and a landslip in the region, with initial reports of serious injuries.
The derailment occurred on Wednesday morning at Stonehaven, British Transport Police (BTP) said in a tweet, reports CNN.
Speaking to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there had been early reports of serious injuries and mentioned that the area had suffered from significant storms. The derailment is an "extremely serious incident," Sturgeon tweeted.
Rail industry sources told the PA news agency that the suspected cause of the incident was a landslip. Andrew Bowie, the local Member of Parliament, said that Stonehaven had experienced flooding on Wednesday after "heavy rain."
Network Rail Scotland had posted a video earlier on Wednesday showing a landslip on the track at Carmont, believed to be close to the scene of the incident.
"Inverbervie station, the closest reporting weather station averages 57.6mm in August. They have recorded 55mm in 24 hours, so almost exactly a month's worth of rainfall in 24 hours, with the bulk of it coming between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time this morning," said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.
According to the PA's industry sources, there were 12 people on board the train -- six passengers and six members of staff. They said that the train's locomotive and three carriages were derailed and had slid down an embankment.
A spokesperson for the hospital dealing with casualties has said it is on "major incident footing."
Photos show there were at least six ambulance vehicles, an air ambulance, and a number of police cars at the site, the PA Media news agency reports.
Railway maintenance authority NetworkRail Scotland said it was working with emergency services.
"It is too early to confirm the exact nature and severity of the incident and more details will be made available once known," it said in a tweet.
British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he has had an urgent meeting with Network Rail about the incident.
"The UK Government will provide every support. My thoughts are with those involved and their families," tweeted Shapps.