Poland: Train crash causes oil fire and explosion

A train ran into another in north east Poland today, causing a fire and explosion, firefighters said.

A train carrying tanks of oil was stopped on the tracks when it was hit from behind by another cargo train, Bialystok fire department spokesman Marcin Janowski said.

Some 17 of the 33 oil tanks that the train was carrying caught fire. Two of the tanks exploded before the fire could be put out.

Janowski said one of the train drivers was hurt in the crash but the explosion caused no injuries.

A primary school near the site was closed for the day as a precaution.

Some 40 teams of firefighters worked to put out the fire.