Bulgaria's Hitrino Blast: Two Train Drivers Indicted

Two of the three drivers on the cargo train whose gas tanks derailed, triggering an explosion that killed seven people, have been indicted, Bulgarian prosecuting authorities say.

Evidence so far suggests the freight train had passed through the village of Hitrino (where the tanks went off the tracks) at an excessively high speed.

However, other factors were also involved in the blast, according to prosecutors.

The third december was in the rear locomotive of the train and could not be held accountable.

Other people may also be slapped with charges over the course of the investigation, chief prosecutor spokesperson Rumyana Arnaudova has told reporters.

On December 10, the train manoeuvred at a speed of 78 km/h in the area of Hitrino station, 38 km/h beyond the speed limit, according to the preliminary results of an expertise.

With dozen cylinders derailing and tumbling over, one of them got depressurized as a result of an impact. Propylene began leaking out of the tank which the wind helped spread throughout Hitrino. A gas cloud was formed that spread to a stove lit up in the children's room of a nearby house.

It was the stove the cause the could to burst into flames and triggered an explosion, according to the expertise.

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