The Hindu : Quake triggered wagon movement?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

International

International

Quake triggered wagon movement?

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB.19. The train disaster in northeastern Iran on Wednesday left at least 295 people dead and nearly 350 injured even as relief and rescue efforts got fully under way today. Authorities were quoted as saying that there was now no danger of explosion from the remaining petrol wagons which had derailed yesterday. Rescue teams have been able to approach the accident site in strength. They are now searching for bodies and are rushing medical supplies to the injured.

Most of the injured have been taken to hospitals in Nishapur, a town around 20 km. from the accident site and Mashaad, capital of the Iran's Khorasan province that borders Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republic of Turkmenistan.

Five villages near the disaster site have been devastated after wagons carrying petrol, sulphur and cotton exploded on Wednesday. Many of the victims are feared buried under the rubble of the mud and brick houses that collapsed under the impact of the blast. The explosion could be felt in Mashad 75 km. away.

According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the Governor, Mayor, fire chief and the local head of the energy department died in the blast. An IRNA reporter was also killed, while the Director-General of the provincial railways was reported missing.

The area bore the sign of devastation. While many of the wagons were reduced to burning wrecks, many bodies were charred beyond recognition. Several of the dead had their limbs missing.

The tragedy began to unfold when 51 wagons broke loose from a train station and hurtled along for nearly 20 km before derailing. The derailment, resulted in a fire.

When fire-fighters, accompanied by officials and onlookers were battling the flames, a massive explosion resulting from the ignition of the highly inflammable material carried in some of the wagons took place, causing a large number of casualties instantly.

Around 200 of those killed are believed to be firefighters, officials and members of the rescue teams. The cause is yet to be determined, but some experts are of the view that tremors might have caused the wagons to move. Seismologists in Teheran recorded an earthquake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale at the time of the accident. Iran is still grappling with a devastating quake that shook the ancient city of Bam on December 26, resulting in the death of more than 40,000 people.

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