51 poisoned after train carrying ammonia derailed in Serbia
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The carriage was transporting ammonia from Bulgaria to Serbia.
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An image which captures a frightful scene of an ammonia leak into the air. (Twitter)
Some 51 people have been poisoned after a train carrying ammonia derailed, spilling its contents in southeastern Serbia, according to officials.
According to Vladan Vasic, the mayor of Pirot, the ammonia leak caused "51 cases of poisoning."
"Seven people were taken to (hospital) in Nis," Vasic remarked in a news conference, referring to the nearest big city to Pirot.
The train derailed in the evening, causing "the leakage (of ammonia) and the dispersion of a large amount of gas into the atmosphere," the interior ministry said in a statement.
A state of emergency was announced, particularly in affected parts of the city of 60,000 inhabitants. Authorities called on residents to remain inside their homes.
According to officials, the 20-carriage train was transporting the toxic materials from Bulgaria.
