Rail Explosion Death Toll Now 80, Soviets Say
Tass said today that 80 people were killed in last weekend’s train explosion in the Soviet Union’s Volga Valley. The news agency said initial results of an investigation showed that high temperatures--not human error--were to blame for the blast.
Three boxcars packed with industrial explosives blew up Saturday, injuring 229 people. The accident occurred in Arzamas, an industrial city about 240 miles east of Moscow.
Earlier media reports said 73 people had died but warned that more deaths could be expected.
A government commission is investigating the accident, and Tass said preliminary results indicate that the blast was caused by recent high temperatures.
“The cargo was handled and carried in keeping with instructions, and the diesel locomotive was in good repair,” the official Soviet news agency said.
It did not elaborate on the cause. Soviet media have reported that the explosives were intended for geologists and miners.
Tass also reported that repair work is being carried out by 2,000 construction workers sent to the site and that housing is being provided for the 600 Soviets left homeless by the accident.
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