RUSSIA – Fuel Train Derailment Sparks Major Fire in Central Russia

Rail traffic in the city of Michurinsk has resumed after a fuel train derailment caused a major explosion and fire in Russia’s Tambov region on Wednesday 4th of February, cleanup operations at the scene were still underway days later.

The accident happened Wednesday near the Kochetovka-2 railway station when a freight train carrying fuel left the tracks, igniting 16 tank wagons. According to Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov, 11 of the cars were loaded with petrol and five with gas.

Emergency crews quickly responded to the incident. Pervyshov said on Telegram that two firefighting trains and 25 additional units of emergency equipment were deployed to control the blaze. The regional office of the Emergency Situations Ministry later confirmed the fire had been contained within an area of around 1,000 square metres.

Authorities said the exact cause of the derailment and explosion remains unknown. Once the fire is fully extinguished, specialists will inspect the railway infrastructure for damage before repair work begins.

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