Storm causes derailment

Sydney: A freight train carrying dangerous goods has derailed and people have been rescued from floodwaters and roofs after heavy rain caused flash flooding on the New South Wales midnorth coast.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales attended the scene near Morrows Rd, Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour after the area was hit by thunderstorms, leading to the derailment early yesterday.

Multiple wagons of the freight train, which was travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne, derailed after encountering a track washout.

Half of the 1500m train derailed, with one of the locomotives in a paddock and the two other locomotives upright.

One of the locomotives leaked up to 8000 litres of diesel and 16 carriages had jackknifed, four of which became stuck in floodwaters.