Heavy smoke engulfed a halted commuter train in Washington, D.C. Monday evening, killing one woman and sending 84 others to local hospitals for treatment.
Most injuries reported were sustained from smoke inhalation. Currently, two are reported to be in critical condition.
One D.C. firefighter is injured and over 200 people have since been evaluated, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officials told a local news station.
Mayor Muriel Bowser released the following statement on the incident:
"We are all saddened by today's fatality aboard the Metrorail, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the passenger who passed away. I want to thank our brave first responders who assisted passengers during the evacuation and with treatment at the scene. I have been in contact with the WMATA leadership, and we will continue to keep the District's resources available in the aftermath of the incident."
According to WUSA9, passengers believe there was an electrical malfunction that caused the smoke. However, authorities have yet to identify a cause and say the incident remains under investigation.
A commuter trapped in the smoke-filled Yellow/Green Line tunnel released this video after surviving the deadly event:
The raw footage shows passengers coughing, moaning in pain, curled into balls, struggling to breathe.
One could only imagine how terrifying that must have been.
Metro announced that the Green Line will continue to be operational Tuesday, but the Yellow Line service would be replaced with additional Blue trains.
Service has been restored to L’Enfant Plaza.