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| Train explosion
in Iran 18 February 2004 328 people killed; 460 people injured Brief Description At approximately 4.00 a.m. local time, a total of 51 chemical rail cars broke free from the train that they were attached to and rolled down the track, derailing at the next station resulting in a number of chemical leaks and fires in the Iranian City of Neyshabur, in Khorasan province, some 400 miles east of Tehran. Local emergency services (fire, police, and rescue) responded to the incident, along with local and state level officials. Reports indicate that several hours later, as response teams attempted to extinguish fires and contain the incident, a large explosion occurred causing widespread damage and casualties. The explosion has reportedly resulted in some 328 deaths, approximately 460 injured, with many individuals still unaccounted for. Those killed by the blast reportedly include the local governor, mayor and fire chief, as well as many of fire and rescue workers whom were on site responding to the incident. There has been damage (exact extent currently unknown) to 5 nearby villages, including Dehnow and Hashemabad, among others. A team of experts are also determining the health hazards from the fumes, said Hassan Rasouli, governor of Khorasan province. Many residents have been complaining of severe sore throats. The derailed cars contained a variety of chemicals including 17 cars of sulphur (a flammable solid), 6 tank cars of gasoline (highly flammable liquid), 7 cars of fertilizers (explosive when mixed with flammable liquids), and 10 cars of cotton wool. The explosion was severe enough to have been felt 70 km away. The above information is based on CNN News, BBC News, AFP and mainly on the OCHA situation report number 1 which is available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int/Possible Causes Although no actual official cause has been identified, the explosion could be attributed to pooling and mixing of incompatible chemicals that had leaked following the derailment, which were then exposed to heat from the subsequent fire, possibly resulting in the explosion. The blast occurred after 51 train cars - laden with sulphur, gasoline (petrol), fertilizers and cotton wool - broke lose and rolled about 20km (12 miles) down the track. The wagons derailed at Khayyam station near Neyshabur and caught fire at 0400 (0030 GMT) on Wednesday. As firefighters were attempting to douse the flames - watched on by crowds of curious villagers and officials - the train exploded, at 0935 (0605GMT). The blast was so powerful that local residents thought it was an earthquake - and Iranian seismologists recorded a quake of magnitude 3.6 at the time of the explosion. The clay-home village of Dehnow, which was closest to the blast at about 550 metres away, was flattened and many villagers were believed to have been killed. The rest are thought to have been evacuated. It is still unclear what caused the heavily-laden freight train to derail. The investigation is likely to focus on human error as the moderate earthquake, which had initially been blamed, occurred after the explosion. The government ordered an immediate inquiry into the disaster and has demanded the results by Sunday. Officials want to know how the freight wagons, which were not attached to a locomotive, could have simply moved off down the line, eventually careering off the track and bursting into flames. They are also demanding to know why the train - which was said to be on its way from central Asian countries to Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas - was loaded with such a lethal combination of chemicals.Historical Data on Transportation of Dangerous Goods Transport Accidents and their Consequences
The guidance in this Report is applicable to all land transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and pipeline, as well as to the handling of such goods at interfaces with other modes of transport, e.g. ports and airports. The guidance is intended to supplement the provisions of national and international law and regulations, not to replace or interfere with them.
UN
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The transport of passengers and goods by rail is subject to the provisions of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1990 (COTIF). This Convention has two Appendices, one dealing with the carriage of passengers (CIV Uniform Rules) and the other dealing with the carriage of goods (CIM Uniform Rules). The
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Relief
web, part of the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) If you want to send us your comments, please e-mail us at: apell@unep.fr |
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TransAPELL
takes APELL guidance beyond the risks associated with fixed facilities
to include those arising from the shipping, distribution and transport
of dangerous goods.