At least five people were killed and 29 injured when a cargo train derailed and exploded in the northeastern Bulgarian village of Hitrino, demolishing about 50 houses and public buildings, officials said on Saturday.
At least three of the victims remain in critical condition in hospitals and the number is likely to rise, health authorities said.
Bulgaria‘s government said it is preparing to announce Monday a day of national mourning following the deadly incident.
“There will be more casualties for sure,” prime minister Boiko Borisov said after arriving at the village, some 380 km northeast of the capital Sofia and home to around 1,000 people, according to a police official.
Twelve of the private train’s tanks, carrying propylene, very volatile and highly flammable gas, derailed at the rail station of the village. One of the tanks struck a high-power line and exploded in flames early on Saturday, police said.
The powerful blast flattened dozens of houses and public buildings, leaving people under the ruins. Officials ordered a full evacuation of the village so that the propylene can be safely removed.
“Two blasts have caused a serious fire and ruined at least 20 buildings. There are many people injured ... many with burns,” interior ministry chief secretary Georgi Kostov said.
An 18-year-old man has died of his wounds in the hospital in the northern town of Shumen, a hospital official said.
Some 200 firemen are putting out the fires and are cooling the derailed tanks to avoid further blasts. Rescue teams are searching for survivors in houses near the train lines.
“I helped take out six people under the ruins. Three were dead, three alive. There are no houses left standing near the incident - within 300 metres from the railways,” said Stefan Stefanov, who lives in Hitrino.
Prosecutors said they are investigating the incident. Possible speeding or malfunctioning of the train tanks are among the most likely reasons for the incident, the head of the parliamentary commission Nastimir Ananiev said.
Reuters