Smoke conditions in D.C. subway cause 1 death

WASHINGTON - Smoke from an unidentified source filled a busy downtown subway station in the U.S.'s capital Monday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people just before afternoon rush hour, authorities said. One person died and dozens were injured.

Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from the L'Enfant Plaza station, one of the subway system's busiest, about 3:30 p.m., said District of Columbia Fire and EMS spokesman Timothy Wilson.

Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles said Monday that a woman died after being seriously injured. He says two people are still in critical condition, according to CBS DC.

Fire and EMS spokeswoman Caroline Laurin also confirmed that a person had died, but declined to say more. She said the National Transportation Safety Board, whose office is located at L'Enfant Plaza, was investigating and would provide additional information. The NTSB tweeted that it had begun an investigation and was on the scene.

Passenger Saleh Damiger was quoted by the newspaper as saying that people were choking and yelling aboard the train.

"It was a lot of smoke," she said. "We couldn't see each other. ... We felt like we were almost going to die." Eighteen people from the station were taken to Medstar Washington Hospital Center, most of them for smoke inhalation, according to spokeswoman So Young Pak. She said 11 were treated and released.

Of the seven still in the hospital Monday night, one was in critical condition and one was in serious condition, she said. George Washington University Hospital spokesman Matt Brock said in an email that 34 patients suffering from smoke inhalation had been brought there. He said their conditions varied.

District of Columbia Fire and EMS spokesman Timothy Wilson said earlier in the day that emergency medical workers evaluated dozens of passengers after smoke filled the station.

The source of the smoke was not immediately known.