This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8125644.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Italians killed as train explodes | Italians killed as train explodes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 15 people have been killed and some 50 injured after a freight train carrying gas derailed and exploded in northern Italy, officials say. | At least 15 people have been killed and some 50 injured after a freight train carrying gas derailed and exploded in northern Italy, officials say. |
| The wagons jumped the tracks and crashed into several homes, setting off an inferno in the seaside town of Viareggio in the middle of the night. | |
| Several of the victims died when their houses collapsed. There are fears some people may be trapped under the rubble. | Several of the victims died when their houses collapsed. There are fears some people may be trapped under the rubble. |
| Officials say there is still a risk that other gas tanks could explode. | Officials say there is still a risk that other gas tanks could explode. |
| 'Terrifying explosion' | 'Terrifying explosion' |
| The explosion happened shortly before midnight local time (2300 BST) when one wagon in the 14-car train carrying liquefied petroleum gas came off the tracks before ploughing into several homes near the station in Viareggio. | The explosion happened shortly before midnight local time (2300 BST) when one wagon in the 14-car train carrying liquefied petroleum gas came off the tracks before ploughing into several homes near the station in Viareggio. |
| The whole sky turned orange and there was a huge mass of dense smoke, we could feel the heat intensify Penny Firth, Viareggio In pictures: Train blast | The whole sky turned orange and there was a huge mass of dense smoke, we could feel the heat intensify Penny Firth, Viareggio In pictures: Train blast |
| "It was a derailment that caused the explosion of one of the rail cars filled with liquefied natural gas. It was a very strong explosion," Viareggio Mayor Luca Lunardini said. | "It was a derailment that caused the explosion of one of the rail cars filled with liquefied natural gas. It was a very strong explosion," Viareggio Mayor Luca Lunardini said. |
| "Two buildings collapsed and burned down, there are others in a serious condition," he said. | "Two buildings collapsed and burned down, there are others in a serious condition," he said. |
| A number of fires immediately broke out in the area. | A number of fires immediately broke out in the area. |
| Several of the victims, including at least one child, died when their houses collapsed with the force of the blast. | Several of the victims, including at least one child, died when their houses collapsed with the force of the blast. |
| At least two other people are thought to have been killed on the road next to the station. | At least two other people are thought to have been killed on the road next to the station. |
| Many of the injured suffered severe burns. | Many of the injured suffered severe burns. |
| "The explosion was terrifying. The whole sky turned orange and there was a huge mass of dense smoke, we could feel the heat intensify. It is just awful... the smell is horrible," Penny Firth in Viareggio told the BBC. | "The explosion was terrifying. The whole sky turned orange and there was a huge mass of dense smoke, we could feel the heat intensify. It is just awful... the smell is horrible," Penny Firth in Viareggio told the BBC. |
| About 1,000 people were evacuated from the area. | About 1,000 people were evacuated from the area. |
| Police say the incident may have been caused by damage to the tracks or a problem with the train's braking system. | Police say the incident may have been caused by damage to the tracks or a problem with the train's braking system. |
| The train's two engineers, who were only slightly injured, said they felt an impact about 200m (650ft) outside the station, shortly before the rear of the train derailed, officials say. | The train's two engineers, who were only slightly injured, said they felt an impact about 200m (650ft) outside the station, shortly before the rear of the train derailed, officials say. |
| Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of propane and butane that is used for cooking or as fuel for specially-adapted vehicles. | Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of propane and butane that is used for cooking or as fuel for specially-adapted vehicles. |
| Are you affected by the crash? Do you have any information you would like to share? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you affected by the crash? Do you have any information you would like to share? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. | The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. |