N. Korea Says Carelessness in Handling Volatile Chemical Contributed

[Dover]

North Korea Says Carelessness in Handling Volatile Chemical Contributed to Devastating Train Blast

By Christopher Bodeen Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 24, 2004


DANDONG, China (AP) - North Korea said Saturday that careless handling of volatile ammonium nitrate fertilizer contributed to the train blast that killed hundreds of people, as international aid workers rushed to the site in response to the North's appeal for help.
In its first statement on Thursday's disaster, North Korea's official news agency said the blast was touched off by "electrical contact caused by carelessness during the shunting of wagons loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer," a chemical used in explosives and rocket fuel.

KCNA, the news agency for North Korea's government, didn't elaborate further on the cause of the explosion at a railway station in Ryongchon, near the border with China. It added that a preliminary investigation "shows that the damage is very serious." ...

Cont'd- http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAUNP5DFTD.html