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SIX people have been killed after two gas-filled railway tank cars exploded in the northern Italian city of Viareggio.
Emergency workers at the scene said that 40 people had been injured in the blast.
Two carriages transporting gas canisters exploded after an apparent derailment shortly after leaving the Viareggio station.
The carriages tore through several neighbouring homes, causing one building to collapse, correspondents in Italy reported.
Five people were killed in one collapsed home, while a sixth died while riding a scooter along the rail tracks, the Associated Press reported.
Most of those injured suffered severe burns, a police officer told AP.
It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment. The police officer quoted by AP said a brake malfunction or track damage could be to blame.
The train’s two drivers escaped serious injury and were questioned after the crash. They said they felt an impact shortly before the trains flew off the tracks.
A fire chief told local TV that there was still a danger some of the canisters on other carriages could explode.
The train of 14 railway cars was travelling from the north to Pisa.
