Fatal Explosion on Italian Train

[90019]

At least one person has been killed and 40 injured when a train carrying gas canisters exploded in northern Italy, local media report.

The incident happened in the coastal town of Viareggio.

The explosion came as the train was approaching the station, and flames spread to a neighbouring street.

It is unclear whether the train derailed before or after the blast. Two buildings are reported to have collapsed, Ansa news agency reported

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8125644.stm

Several people are feared dead and dozens injured after two carriages of a train carrying gas tanks derailed and exploded in northern Italy.

The blast hit surrounding houses, injuring at least 40 in the town of Viareggio.

From Italy, journalist Nick Pisa told Sky News the disaster happened after midnight, shortly after the goods train of 14 carriages had passed through Viareggio station.

"The train was diverted and two of the carriages appear to have derailed," he said.

"Along that side of the railway line there are houses and they caught the full effect of the blast."

Italian media fear several people are dead and are already describing the incident as one of the worst railway accidents in Italian history.

Grainy mobile phone footage showing flames engulfing the houses by the railway track was being shown on television, Pisa said.

State television confirmed police and fire crews were in attendance at the scene in Tuscany.

More to follow...

Sky News

 

[Death]

At least one person has been killed and 40 injured when a train carrying gas canisters exploded in northern Italy, local media report.

The incident happened in the coastal town of Viareggio.

The explosion came as the train was approaching the station, and flames spread to a neighbouring street.

It is unclear whether the train derailed before or after the blast. Two buildings are reported to have collapsed, Ansa news agency reported

I happen to have a good friend from La Spezia who commutes between there and Pisa, and he passes through Viareggio very often. hock:

Thankfully, he wasn't anywhere near the area when the incident occurred...But after what he's said plus the news reports from the area, it's a pretty damn nasty mess they've got down there - Viareggio on it's own will be a railway no-go area for at least a month, and from what I recall that line is the Italian equivalent of the WCML, too - That basically adds up to serious motorway traffic between Rome and Tuscanny in the meantime! :?

Either way though, it's definitely a tragedy that it happened as bad as it did. Have they found the cause yet? From what I can recall of news reports, it sounds to me like severe points failure or tampering occurring as the train passed over it...

 

[37401]

RIP to those who died

 

[90019]

At least 14 people have been killed and dozens injured in the explosion of a freight train carrying gas which derailed in northern Italy.

The carriages jumped the tracks and crashed into homes in the seaside town of Viareggio on Monday night.

Several of the victims died when their houses collapsed.

Firefighters are searching for people believed to be trapped. An investigation into the causes of the crash is under way.

Local officials initially gave the death toll as 16, but the figure was revised later on Tuesday.

However, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told a news conference that four people were still missing and the toll could rise.

Guido Bertolaso, head of Italy's civil protection agency, said 13 wagons, each carrying a tank of liquefied petroleum gas, were still lying on or by the tracks.

"The area is still at a really high risk level because the fire is still smouldering," he said.

About 1,000 residents have been told to leave their homes, and police have warned there could be further evacuations.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8125644.stm



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