This is the shocking moment a tourist was struck by a train while taking a selfie - but miraculously survived.

The Filipina holidaymaker, identified in reports only as 'Michelle', 36, had stepped onto the railway to pose for photos along Shifen Old Street in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 20.

CCTV footage shows her spreading her arms just as the yellow train behind her was passing by. She was knocked off her feet and dragged by the hair further onto the tracks, sparking panic among other tourists in the area.

The local fire department said it received a report about the accident at 4:37 pm local time. Medics were dispatched to the scene, where they found Michelle with a two-inch-long laceration on her head.

She was taken to a hospital in Keelung City for 'non-life-threatening' injuries to her head, chest, and pelvis.

Railway worker Zhao Huang said: 'Tourists can take selfies and videos but they should not walk onto the tracks when a train is approaching. In this case, the tourist was standing in the area where the train moves. She was very lucky to still be alive.'

Cheloy Garafil, chair of the Philippines' representative office in Taiwan, said Michelle was remaining in Taiwan for medical treatment.

She added: 'Her relatives have also been informed. She's stable and conscious but needs to undergo surgery because of her injuries.'

The official said that Michelle's travel agency has promised to shoulder her medical expenses through her insurance.

Adding insult to injury, the Taiwan Railway Police Bureau said that Michelle may be fined for trespassing on the tracks under Article 57 of the Railway Act.

The fines range from 10,000 to 50,000 TWD (305 USD to 1525 USD).

Shifen Sky Lantern Old Street is a historic railway street lined with lantern shops and local cafes and eateries. Visitors flock to the area to float colourful sky lanterns inscribed with their wishes.

Train tracks close to home and buildings have become popular attractions in Asia, with similar spots in Thailand and Vietnam also drawing in thousands of visitors every day.

However, they have sparked repeated safety concerns. Officials in Hanoi closed the city's 'Train Street' in September 2022 and revoked the business licenses of all cafes and shops along the alleyway, citing violations of railway safety regulations. Barricades were erected to prevent tourist access to these areas.

While in Thailand at the Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram, a train suffered a smashed windscreen when it collided with a parasol.