russia fire
© mchs
At least 23 people have been injured after a cargo train derailed in Russia's south with over 50 fuel tanks running off the tracks. One person has been reported missing. Almost 3,000 were evacuated from the nearby area.

Over 50 rail cars of a 71-car-long cargo train derailed at the Belaya Kalitva station in Russia's Rostov region at around 2 am local time.

At least seven cars have caught fire as a result of the accident, and heavy smoke is reported at the scene. The fire had been localized at around 6 am local time.

"As a result of the accident, one of the cars with diesel fuel tank started the fire, engulfing an area of 1.5 thousand square meters," Interfax quoted the local Emergencies Ministry representative.

At least 23 people were admitted to the hospital with injuries and burns. Ten of them including the locomotive driver have been hospitalized, one in critical condition.

The official representative of the North Caucasian railway Evgeny Boevets told Interfax that during the derailment one of the cars released propane gas, enabling the flames spread to the locomotive.

"According to preliminary information, there was no explosion, instead, the tank caught fire," said the source.

At least 2,700 people have been evacuated from the area around the crash site and moved to temporary shelter in the local community center.

Over 190 emergency workers and 48 pieces of equipment were at the scene battling the fire.