- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 01 Mar 2025 04:41 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Czech firefighters were battling a major chemical blaze in the eastern Czech Republic on Friday after a freight train derailed and carcinogenic benzene from damaged tank wagons caught fire.
The derailment took place near the station in the town of Hustopece nad Becvou around noon local time (1100 GMT), with the fire sending thick black smoke into the air visible from a long distance.
The cause of the derailment was under investigation. No one has been injured. The nearest houses in the town are located about 500 meters (around a quarter-mile) from the fire, but the smoke hadn’t reached them. Firefighters said that 15 of the 17 tanks in the train were on fire. Each tank contained about 60 metric tons (66 tons) of the toxic substance.
VIDEO: Freight train derails in Czech Republic
Freight Train Derailment Sparks Toxic Blaze in Czech Republic.
— JAS (@JasADRxquisites) February 28, 2025
HUSTOPEČE NAD BEČVOU, Czech Republic – A freight train carrying toxic benzene derailed and erupted into flames today in Hustopeče nad Bečvou, 250 kilometers east of Prague. Five wagons and a locomotive blazed with… pic.twitter.com/BAWKavO5MH
Helicopter used to douse the fire
They used a helicopter to contain the fire while their counterparts from neighbouring Slovakia were on the way to help.
Authorities said that no levels of dangerous substances exceeding limits have been detected in the town, but advised that residents there and in nearby towns and villages don’t open their windows, and stay indoors.
Firefighters originally said that the train was carrying benzol, but later said it was benzene, which is used to make various chemical substances.
(With inputs from agency)