NISHAPUR — 2004 · Major Tragedy
Nishapur Train Disaster
In the early hours of 18 February 2004, 51 wagons loaded with sulphur, ammonium nitrate fertiliser, petrol and cotton broke loose from a siding at Abu Muslim station in Nishapur, rolled about 20 kilometres with no driver or guard, and derailed near the village of Khayyam. Firefighters, officials and villagers gathered to put out small fires that broke out among the leaking cargo. Some five and a half hours later a massive explosion largely destroyed the village and killed nearly 300 people, including rescuers and local officials. It was Iran's deadliest rail disaster, and how the parked wagons came loose has never been fully explained.
- Date
- 2004
- Place
- Khayyam village, Razavi Khorasan, Iran, Nishapur, IR
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 36.2000, 58.8000 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 18 February 2004, ~04:00Fifty-one runaway wagons derailed near Khayyam.
- 18 February 2004, ~09:30A huge explosion occurred while firefighting was under way.
- February 2004The death toll was reported at nearly 300.
- LaterHow the wagons came loose was never explained.
Sources
- BBC News — Iran train blast kills hundreds news.bbc.co.uk ↗
- The Guardian — Hundreds killed in Iran train explosion theguardian.com ↗
- NBC News — Iran train explosion nbcnews.com ↗
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- NBC News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.