Train Explosion in Iran

[janswizard]

Iran Train Explosion Kills Hundreds

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

TEHRAN, Iran — Train cars transporting highly-flammable fuel and industrial chemicals derailed in Iran (search) on Wednesday, triggering explosions that left more than 200 people dead and more than 300 injured, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Five nearby villages were also demolished, the news agency also reported.

The freight train cars hauling sulfur, fuel oil and other industrial chemicals blew up outside the city of Neyshapur (search), 400 miles east of Tehran (search), the capital, IRNA reported.

More than 40 freight cars were waiting at a train station in Neyshapur when they were set in motion. It wasn't clear how. The wagons, speeding without an engine or conductor, later overturned, starting a blaze.

Firefighters trying to put out the fire when the cars exploded were among the dead, IRNA said.

At least 300 people were injured. IRNA quoted local officials as saying most of the casualties were in five nearby villages that were destroyed.

"The scale of the devastation is very great, and the damage appears more than initially thought," said Vahid Bakechi, a senior official in Khorasan Province's Emergency Headquarters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
-_______________________________

Oh, yeah, this is a country that can be responsible with nuclear weapons.
They don't even have enough sense to keep fertilizers and other combustible elements away from each other.