25 dead, almost 100 injured in Myanmar train blast, fire
YANGON, Myanmar - Authorities said Saturday that casualties from a fiery train accident had reached 25 dead and almost 100 injured. The report raised the number of injured after a carriage full of fuel burst into flames.
State television had said Friday that 64 people were injured in an explosion and fire after dozens of people rushed to skim fuel from a derailed tanker train's overturned carriages.
An official from the Myanma Railways department said Saturday that engineers are trying to clear the track to resume rail service after Friday morning's accident near Kantbalu, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) north of Yangon. He also said the injury toll had increased to 93.
The train was travelling from Yangon to the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina. The official refused to give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
