PHILADELPHIA, May 12 (UPI) -- At least five people died and dozens were injured Tuesday evening when several cars of an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia.

Train 188, carrying 238 passengers and five crew members, was traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York.


Seven cars and the engine of the train derailed in the 2000 block of Wheatsheaf Lane.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter confirmed at least five people died in the accident.

"It is an absolute disastrous mess," he said. "Never seen anything like this in my life."

Six people in critical condition and more than 40 people with less critical injuries were transported to local hospitals, a Philadelphia Fire Department spokesman told reporters. Others were "walking wounded," he said.

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., tweeted that he was on the train at the time of the crash.

"I'm on @Amtrak train that just crashed. Im ok. Helping others. Pray for those injured," he wrote.

The National Transportation Safety Board was en route to the scene to investigate the cause of the crash.

"We do not know what happened here, we do not know why this happened," Nutter said. "We are not going to speculate about it."

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority service in the region was suspended pending further notice.