1 dead after Belgian train derailment
From Pierre Meilhan, CNN
May 4, 2013 -- Updated 1719 GMT (0119 HKT)
The freight train derailed in the northwestern part of Belgium, between Schellebelle and Wetteren.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- One person was killed after a train derailed in Belgium
- 17 others were injured, governor's spokesman says
- The train was carrying a toxic chemical compound
(CNN) -- One person was killed and 17 others injured after a freight train derailed in northwestern Belgium, a local official told CNN.
Several explosions and a fire broke out following the derailment, according to Infrabel, the state-owned company that operates Belgian railways.
The exact cause of the reported death was not immediately known.
The train, owned the by the Belgian freight company SNCB Logistics, derailed between the towns of Schellebelle and Wetteren, near Ghent.
Some 350 area residents were evacuated from the area because some of the derailed wagons were carrying the toxic chemical compound acrylonitrile, said Peter Mertens spokesman for the local governor. Mertens reported the casualties.
Exposure to acrylonitrile, can cause mucus membrane irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Part of complete coverage on
May 8, 2013 -- Updated 0959 GMT (1759 HKT)
Sir Alex Ferguson retires after nearly 27 years managing Manchester United. CNN's Ben Wyatt looks at his hugely successful legacy.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1232 GMT (2032 HKT)
Amid the massive global interest in the release of Amanda Knox's memoir, it has been easy to overlook the victim.
May 6, 2013 -- Updated 1956 GMT (0356 HKT)
Reports that Israel conducted airstrikes in Syria is stoking new fears that the conflict could escalate, involving Iran, Israel and the West.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 2034 GMT (0434 HKT)
Jurors hearing the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial got a stark look at the dead pop icon after a lawyer showed them an autopsy photo.
May 8, 2013 -- Updated 1001 GMT (1801 HKT)
Questions remain over who was ultimately responsible for the Bangladesh building collapse, which claimed over 700 garment worker's lives.
May 8, 2013 -- Updated 0535 GMT (1335 HKT)
Bank of China stops business with a large N. Korean bank, following U.S.-led sanctions to restrict Pyongyang's nuclear program funding.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1407 GMT (2207 HKT)
CNN's Zain Verjee speaks to the African Union commander in Mogadishu for the real picture on the ground in Somalia.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 0449 GMT (1249 HKT)
CNN's Gary Tuchman looks at the dilemma: where do you bury the worst of the worst?
May 8, 2013 -- Updated 0524 GMT (1324 HKT)
Italians point to high-profile cases in which they say American suspects have been accused of criminal acts, but have been let off lightly.
May 3, 2013 -- Updated 1130 GMT (1930 HKT)
Our graphic illustrates the stark contrast in the cost of making clothes in Bangladesh, compared to the U.S.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1246 GMT (2046 HKT)
When Pedro Matos arrived in conflict-ridden Darfur in 2009, the last thing he expected to encounter was sartorial splendor.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1238 GMT (2038 HKT)
Science fiction fantasy could be turning into reality by the development of a memory device to implant into patients.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1011 GMT (1811 HKT)
Boeing exclusively reveals how the company dealt with the technical and logistical challenges of repairing the Dreamliner.
Artists in Asia's world city produce meticulous dioramas that capture the city's cultural highlights and residential lows.
The CNN iReport Awards celebrate journalism and reward iReporters for their contributions. Vote for your favorite until May 6.
Today's five most popular stories
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|