NEWS: Train Explosion in Iran Kills More Than 200

Breaking News:
IRAN - A train carrying gasoline, sulfur, and other chemicals derailed and exploded in Iran moments ago. At least 350 people are injured, and reports indicate more than 200 people have died. It is expected the total number of victims will be significantly higher.

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Sky News
The incident occured near the town of Neyshabour in northeast Iran, which is about 400 miles east of Tehran.

The scene is being called "chaos," and medical personnel are struggling to evacuate the wounded to area hospitals. Due to the massive blast, officials are having a difficult time assessing the true number of casualties.

Five villages are reported destroyed as a result of the tremendous explosion, heard as far as 50 miles away, according to Head of Disasters Vahid Barakchi. Many of the dead are firefighters who were attempting to extinguish the blaze just before the explosion.

There are indications that an earthquake or earthquakes may have caused the 51 cars to derail. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded in the area at the time of the accident.

This story is still developing. . .

Related Links:
The Australian
News24
Independent Online


[Edited on 18-2-2004 by Banshee]

[Edited on 18-2-2004 by SkepticOverlord]

This is very sad news,

Also coming in is that it may have been caused by earth tremmors! as there were a few there earlyer!

That's interesting, Asala...is that on the news over there? I haven't seen any links with that info yet, and the news stations here aren't covering this yet.

-B.

Banshee: It s been reporting here for about an hour now, on the news

mainly sky news heres a link

www.sky.com...


more coming in!!! The death toll is going down from 200 to 60 now.... still a high number but better than 200.




[Edited on 18-2-2004 by asala]

This is the most recent Earthquake map, the closest one was in Pakistan.
neic.usgs.gov...

That Pakistan quake was on 2/15, so I don't think it's the same one. I still haven't found any corroboration on the earthquake angle.

And, asala, where are you seeing the toll dropping to 60? All my sources are still reporting 200+ (even the TV news, which is finally reporting on this).

It just so happens that it might be the metal expanding from the heat could have distorted the rails

We know that terrorist are in Iran (or at least most likely they are) we also know they have targeted our trains as potential weapons. Wouldn't it be aweful if this was some kind of a test before using trains in the US as weapons. We know that the terrorist feel dying in such a way is acceptable to God so killing 200 or 60 innocents is no problem. Just a thought

Isn't this a typical example of Alqaeda work and strategy? Twinhorned they are. Always. What happened the other day? Someone leaked there was a car filled with explosives somewhere in Saudi Arabia. And everyone's eyes were directed there. Then Osama's posse in Iran would carry out the real attack ten times as big. Just a thought.

[Edited on 18-2-2004 by Hamilton]

Debkafile is reporting that train was full of explosives bound for Kandahar and the Taliban;
www.debka.com...
DEBKAfile reveals: Hundreds of tons of explosives bound for Taleban in Kandahar believed aboard the train whose explosion killed at least 300 Iranians and destroyed five villages Wednesday. According to unconfirmed reports from Tehran, the colossal blast was caused by sabotage.
[more on site as you scroll down]