World News | Freight Train Derails in Czech Republic, Causing Major Chemical Fire
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Czech firefighters were battling a major chemical blaze in eastern Czech Republic on Friday after a freight train derailed and carcinogenic benzol from damaged tank wagons caught fire.
Prague, Feb 28 (AP) Czech firefighters were battling a major chemical blaze in eastern Czech Republic on Friday after a freight train derailed and carcinogenic benzol from damaged tank wagons caught fire.
The derailment took place near the station in the town of Hustopece nad Becvou around noon local time (1100 GMT), with the fire sending thick black smoke into the air visible from a long distance. The cause of the derailment was under investigation. No one has been injured.
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The nearest houses in the town are located about 500 metres from the fire, but the smoke hadn't reached them.
Firefighters said that 15 of the 17 tanks in the train were on fire. Each tank contained about 60 metric tons (66 tonnes) of the toxic substance. They used a helicopter to contain the fire while their counterparts from neighbouring Slovakia were on the way to help.
Authorities said that no levels of dangerous substances exceeding limits have been detected in the town, but advised that residents there and in nearby towns and villages don't open their windows, and stay indoors.
Benzol contains benzene, toluene and xylene, which are used to make various chemical substances. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)