Death toll climbs in Viareggio Train Explosion

by Rob Walker | June 30, 2009 at 05:24 am

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The death toll of a gas explosion on a freight train in Italy has risen to 14 and the injured to at least 36 people. The train was carrying gas tanks through the Viareggio train station when it derailed, causing some of the tanks to explode.

Most of the injuries were from burns, and two children are among those most seriously injured. The train was traveling from La Spezia to Pisa when it derailed at around 11:45 pm on Monday.

Most of the injuries were burns. Two children were among the severely burned, said Guido Bertolaso, head of the Italian civil protection agency.
The train was carrying gas tanks when it derailed and exploded while passing through a station in the coastal town of Viareggio. The explosion happened about 11:45 p.m. (2145 GMT) Monday. The cargo train had nine tank-wagons full of gas, four of which turned over.