A PASSENGER train with over 100 people on board derailed in the northern U.S. state of Montana on Saturday afternoon, killing at least three people and injuring multiple others, local media reported.

Seven cars on the train, Empire Builder 7/27, derailed at about 4 p.m. local time near Joplin, according to Amtrak. The rail line confirmed there were injuries in the accident, but offered no more details.

Amtrak is a passenger railroad service company operating many passenger rail routes in the United States.

The three deaths were confirmed by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department. Officials did not say how many total were injured.

There were approximately 146 passengers and 16 crew members on board the train, Amtrak said. The train was traveling from Chicago to Seattle.

Several passengers on the train shared images of the front cars off the track, with some tipped on their sides.

Amtrak said in a statement that anyone with questions about friends or family who were traveling on the derailed train should call 800-523-9101.

It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is launching a “go team” to investigate the derailment.

Liberty County is an extremely rural part of northern Montana, with only a few thousand residents despite being larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.

Great Falls is the largest nearby city, about 160 kilometers south of Joplin. The state capital of Helena is about three hours south of Joplin by car.

(SD-Agencies)