PRAGUE—Czech firemen were battling a large chemical fire in eastern Czech Republic on Friday when a freight train derailed, igniting carcinogenic benzene from damaged tank carriages.
The accident occurred near the station in Hustopeče nad Bečvou at noon local time (1100 GMT), resulting in dense black smoke visible from a distance. The cause of the derailment was being investigated. Nobody has been wounded.
The nearest residences in town are around 500 meters (about a quarter mile) from the fire, but the smoke has not reached them.
Firefighters reported that 15 of the train's 17 tanks were on fire. Each tank held around 60 metric tons (66 tons) of the poisonous material. They utilized a helicopter to put out the fire as colleagues from neighboring Slovakia arrived to assist.
Authorities said no toxic compounds had been identified in the town, but they asked locals to stay home and not open their windows.
Firefighters initially believed the train was hauling benzol, but subsequently discovered it was transporting benzene, which is used to create a variety of chemicals.
