Train Derails in Italy, Kills 14

A train carrying liquefied petroleum gas derailed and exploded just before midnight Monday outside the seaside resort of Viareggio, Italy.

Officials evacuated approximately 1,000 people from the town after the explosion caused fires and the collapse of several homes, according to news reports from the area. At least 14 people have been reported killed. Thirty more are missing. More than 50 were injured; 37 were listed as seriously injured; 16 of those were said to be in critical condition, including a two-year-old child who was badly burned.

Italy’s civil protection agency said search and rescue operations are going on amid fire fighting. The area is sealed off. Four railcars are off the tracks on their sides. Liquefied petroleum gas escaped from one of the derailed cars and caught fire, causing the explosion, according to Italy’s state railways.

GATX Rail Europe owns the railcars involved in the accident. The subsidiary of U.S.-based GATX told Reuters it did not know the cause of the explosion and was gathering information.

Contact Thomas L. Gallagher at tgallagher@joc.com.