COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — At least six elephants were killed when a passenger train hit a herd near a wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, an official said on Thursday.

The express train was travelling near a wildlife reserve at Habarana, some 180 kilometres east of the capital Colombo, when it hit the herd before dawn.

The train was travelling near a wildlife reserve at Habarana when it hit a family of elephants crossing the line.

A passenger train derailed after striking a herd of elephants near a wildlife reserve in central Sri Lanka in the early hours of Thursday. While no injuries were reported among passengers, six elephants died from the accident in Habarana,

Graphic content / Wounded elephants. A passenger train derailed after hitting a herd of elephants near a wildlife reserve in Habarana, Sri Lanka, early Thursday, resulting in six elephant fatalities.