Serbia: 51 poisoned by ammonia after train derails

In Sebia, at lest 51 51 poisoned as train carrying ammonia derails in Southeastern part of the country, said Vladan Vasic, the mayor of the city of Pirot where the accident occurred. "Seven people were taken to (hospital) in Nis," the nearest big city, Vasic told a news conference. 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 called in the affected part of the city of 60,000, and authorities called for residents to remain inside their homes.

A freight train carrying ammonia gas derailed in Pirot, in eastern Serbia. As a result, a high concentration of the gas was released and dozens of people were hospitalized with poisoning symptoms there was ammonia in 20 wagons and ammonia leaked from two wagons. pic.twitter.com/LitQnckMNC

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The 20-carriage train was transporting toxic materials from neighbouring Bulgaria, officials said. The derailment did not result in any other casualties. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and (CDC), high amounts of ammonia can irritate and burn the skin, mouth, throat, lungs and eyes. Even higher levels of ammonia can damage the lungs and can also lead to death.