Seven people are confirmed to have died and more have life-threatening injuries following a tram derailment in Croydon.

On Wednesday morning (November 9) seven were left dead and 51 people taken to hospital during the incident in which two carriages derailed.

Giving a statement, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the death toll "may well increase", reports the Croydon Advertiser, before London Ambulance Service (LAS) confirmed eight people have serious or life-threatening injuries.

The mayor added: "As a consequence of a very serious tram derailing this morning there have been a number of fatalities.

"I can confirm that five people have died and we think that number may well increase.

"There are 51 people who were taken to two hospitals this morning, Croydon University Hospital and St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

"A number of those who are in hospital are in a serious condition.

"There is a special hotline that family members friends and loved ones can ring if they’re worried about members of their family or friends.

"The emergency services are still working now. We are now at the recovery stage of the operation."

It has since been confirmed that seven people in total have died.

One person was arrested after the tram crash.

Emergency services from London, including Ealing officers, assisted in the rescue effort along with Croydon police.

Residents in the area described hearing a loud bang and seeing the injured being carried away on stretchers in the wake of the incident, which happened shortly after 6.10am.

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Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it has launched an investigation into the incident.

RAIB added the derailment occurred at a curve where the speed limit is 12mph, but "initial indications" suggest the tram was travelling "significantly higher speed" than permitted.

Evidence is currently being collected, it added.

The London Fire Brigade had confirmed that there is no one left trapped on the tram.

A spokesman said no survivors were left onboard after those alive were removed from the vehicle.

Earlier, two people were still trapped inside the tram.

It is not clear whether the seven dead - as the number stands right now - includes those who were trapped inside.

A temporary mortuary has been set up at the site, Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell.

He said that people were being taken close to the overturned tram, the Croydon Advertiser reports.

Mr Barwell said: “There are still bodies on the site, out of respect the emergency services didn’t take us too close.

“The tram is lying on its side and there is a temporary mortuary there. You can see some damage to the track.

“It is a very professionally run recovery operation.”

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