petertenthije
02-18-2004, 07:25 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3498851.stm
A freight train has exploded in north-east Iran, causing large-scale loss of life and massive destruction. The exact number killed is unclear, but Iranian TV says 180 died. Hundreds more were injured in the blast which occurred near the town of Neyshabur in Khorasan province. Many of the dead were fire-fighters who had been trying to extinguish fires when the blast occurred.
According to Iranian TV, the train wagons - which included 17 wagons of sulphur, six wagons of petrol, seven wagons of fertilizers and 10 wagons of cotton wool - derailed and caught fire at 0400 local time (0030 GMT).
Fire-fighters had nearly put out the blaze, but at 0935 local time an explosion occurred. This was possibly due to fumes from the cargo on board the crate wagons.
Some sources say the train wagons were set loose by earth tremors. An investigation is now under way into how the accident happened.
Top city officials, including the local governor, mayor and fire chief, are believed to be among the dead. Irna news agency also said the head of the city's energy department had been killed and that the director-general of the provincial railways was missing. An Irna reporter was also killed in the blast.
Several hundred injured people have been taken to hospitals in Neyshabur and Mashhad. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has offered United Nations assistance to those affected by the explosion.
This accident happened in the same region that had the devestating earthquake a month or two back.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39874000/gif/_39874875_iran_mashad2_map203.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39876000/jpg/_39876271_iranwreckage.jpg
A freight train has exploded in north-east Iran, causing large-scale loss of life and massive destruction. The exact number killed is unclear, but Iranian TV says 180 died. Hundreds more were injured in the blast which occurred near the town of Neyshabur in Khorasan province. Many of the dead were fire-fighters who had been trying to extinguish fires when the blast occurred.
According to Iranian TV, the train wagons - which included 17 wagons of sulphur, six wagons of petrol, seven wagons of fertilizers and 10 wagons of cotton wool - derailed and caught fire at 0400 local time (0030 GMT).
Fire-fighters had nearly put out the blaze, but at 0935 local time an explosion occurred. This was possibly due to fumes from the cargo on board the crate wagons.
Some sources say the train wagons were set loose by earth tremors. An investigation is now under way into how the accident happened.
Top city officials, including the local governor, mayor and fire chief, are believed to be among the dead. Irna news agency also said the head of the city's energy department had been killed and that the director-general of the provincial railways was missing. An Irna reporter was also killed in the blast.
Several hundred injured people have been taken to hospitals in Neyshabur and Mashhad. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has offered United Nations assistance to those affected by the explosion.
This accident happened in the same region that had the devestating earthquake a month or two back.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39874000/gif/_39874875_iran_mashad2_map203.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39876000/jpg/_39876271_iranwreckage.jpg