At least five people were killed Saturday and 27 were injured when a freight train transporting gas derailed and exploded in the northeastern Bulgarian village of Hitrino, officials said.
"Five victims have been confirmed dead so far and 27 injured," the interior ministry said in a statement.
The train was carrying more than 20 tankers of propylene gas and propane butane when it derailed while entering the village's rail station.
The last two tankers hit a power line and exploded and seven tankers full of propylene went off the tracks, local police spokeswoman Assia Yordannova said.
The blast occurred at 5:37am (0337 GMT) at the village, located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Varna, Bulgaria's main port on the Black Sea.
The interior ministry said there were 200 firefighters and rescuers at the scene. More than 50 houses were damaged and 40 families evacuated.
"Four victims have been identified but we fear there will be more. Twenty-five people were injured," civil defence chief Nikolay Nikolov said.
A hospital in the nearby town of Shumen said an 18-year-old man had died from his injuries, while three people with life-threatening burns have been transported to a hospital in the city of Varna, Bulgaria's largest port on the Black Sea.
Aerial footage showed a massive plume of black smoke rising over the small village, which is home to some 800 people.
Charred tankers lay scattered around the tracks of the nearly ruined railway station. There was debris everywhere.
"There is devastation in the area around the blast site. Twelve people have been rescued from under the ruins alive so far and firefighters are checking for more," Nikolov added.
Hitrino's station, the police headquarters and several homes along the railway tracks were razed.
Fires raging in the area were put out around noon, local authorities said.
"There will be more than five victims. There are several injured with 90 percent burns," Bulgaria's outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borisov after arriving at the site. He appealed for blood donations for the hospitals treating the injuries.
Residents said the firefighters had been "very slow" to arrive and many burst into tears while recounting how their houses collapsed.
Cargo train accidents are relatively frequent in Bulgaria where railway tracks are obsolete and regularly pillaged by thiefs. But victims are extremely rare.
AFP
Sat Dec 10 2016
The train was carrying more than 20 tankers of propylene gas and propane butane when it derailed while entering the village's rail station. -AFP
AWANI Tonight: Tupperware Brands set to file for bankruptcy
Tupperware Brands is preparing to file for bankruptcy after a year-long effort to revive the business, as it faces mounting debt and a sharp decline in demand for its once iconic plastic containers.
AWANI Tonight: Should M'sia implement stricter controls for children on social media?
Dr Benjamin Loh from Taylor's University shares his insights about the necessity for setting a minimum age limit for children to use social media in Malaysia.
Banjir di Kedah semakin memburuk, bilangan mangsa cecah 1,018 orang
Situasi banjir di Kedah makin memburuk selepas bilangan mangsa mencecah 1,018 orang daripada 268 keluarga yang ditempatkan di 11 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di negeri ini.
PM mahu persediaan mantap dilakukan menjelang kepengerusian ASEAN 2025
Perdana Menteri berkata Malaysia perlu menjadi peneraju hebat dengan menyusun pelbagai program yang benar-benar memberi kesan mendalam kepada komuniti ASEAN secara keseluruhannya.
PM Anwar ulangi komitmen Malaysia jayakan Agenda 2030 untuk pembangunan mampan
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini mengulangi komitmen Malaysia dalam menjayakan Agenda 2030 untuk pembangunan mampan seperti yang dimeterai bersama 192 negara lain pada 2015.
Bunuh: Dua buruh kasar terlepas hukuman mati, diganti penjara 30 tahun
Panel hakim menolak rayuan A.Rames dan Tew Siew Kem untuk mengetepikan sabitan terhadap mereka dan menggantikan hukuman mati dengan penjara.
HUMS dijangka siap Dis 2025, beroperasi pada Jan 2026 - Zambry
HUSM dibina dengan kapasiti 400 katil, 25 bilik pembedahan, 40 katil rawatan intensif atau rapi serta 145 buah klinik pakar.
Tiga wanita ditahan dalam Op Global sambung reman hingga 22 Sept
Tiga wanita yang ditahan menerusi Op Global di Nilai dan Seremban kerana disyaki terbabit dalam kes eksploitasi kanak-kanak di negeri ini, disambung reman hingga 22 Sept.
Arul Kanda tidak tahu tentang kewujudan 'pelaburan' 1MDB - Tony Pua
Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini diberitahu Arul Kanda Kandasamy tidak pasti tentang nilai 'pelaburan' 1MDB atau sama ada ia benar-benar wujud.
Seorang ahli GISB akan dituduh di Mahkamah Majistret Putrajaya esok
Individu terbabit akan didakwa di bawah Seksyen 506 Kanun Keseksaan.