Dramatic images show the destruction after deadly Amtrak Philadelphia train crash

Five people have died and another 140 were injured

Emergency personnel work the scene of a deadly train wreck

As news of Amtrak Train 188's derailment in Philadelphia arrived, so did the horrific images from the crash site, showing a scene of chaos and destruction.

Rolled carriages reduced to mangled metal lay at the side of tracks as emergency workers were joined by the city's mayor to help to find surivors trapped inside.

Five people have been confirmed dead and another 140 injured.

Emergency personnel help a passenger

Emergency responders search for passengers

Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck

Emergency personnel carry an injured person

Emergency personnel inspect the train wreck

A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car

At least three Philadelphia hospitals confirmed they were receiving injured passengers (AP)

Members of the Block Church gather supplies to supply emergency personnel working at the wreckage of an Amtrak passenger train

The cause of the Amtrak train crash is still under investigation, but the train was said to have been navigating the same curve as the one where one of the worst train accidents in US history happened - 72 years ago

Such was the power of the impact of the crash that one carriage had come to rest perpendicular to the other carriages (AP)

The train crashed after nightfall, impeding the rescue operation (AP)

Emergency teams at the scene of the crashed train, which was carrying 243 people (Getty Images)

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was at the scene as teams searched for passengers following an Amtrak train crash (Reuters)

Michael Nutter, the mayor of Phildelphia, above, described the disaster as "unbelievable".