A freight train loaded with ammonia has derailed in Serbia. More than 50 people, including children, had to be hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning. The accident happened on Sunday evening in the Pirot region in the southeast of the country. A state of emergency has been declared in some parts of the city, the mayor said.
“There are 51 cases of poisoning,” Pirot city mayor Vladan Vasic told reporters on Sunday. Seven people were taken to Nis hospital. The head of Pirot Hospital explained that three children had also been admitted. Those affected suffered from “irritation of the respiratory organs,” he said (see video above).
Highway closed, schools closed
The train derailed early Sunday evening, with ammonia escaping and released into the atmosphere in large quantities, the Interior Ministry said. It called on Pirot’s to stay home. Anyone who needs to go outside should wear an FFP2 mask, Mayor Vasic said. Several roads were closed. A major international highway in eastern Serbia remained closed on Monday, as did schools and other public facilities in the region.
According to the railway company Srbija Kargo, the train consisted of 20 tankers with toxic cargo from neighboring Bulgaria. Accordingly, the train derailed “outside the residential areas” of the 60,000-resident city. To be on the safe side, a four kilometer wide cordoned off area was set up around the accident site.
“Ammonia concentration still high”
“The ammonium concentration at the crash site is still high,” Serbian Transport Minister Goran Vesic told reporters. “The situation is under control, but until this is all resolved, we must remain cautious.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
