Five people were killed and up to 138 others wounded or poisoned when a truck carrying chemical gas cylinders detonated in Taji town, 30 km north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, a well-informed police source said.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and up to 138 others wounded or poisoned when a truck carrying chemical gas cylinders detonated in Taji town, 30 km north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, a well-informed police source said.

    "A truck carrying three 1.5 meters to 2 meters high cylinders filled with chlorine gas detonate in the Taji town, killing five people, wounding and poisoning 138 others," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The blast took place in the morning at a busy area near the Al al-Bait Restaurant in the town, the source said.

    Ambulances rushed to the area to evacuate the wounded and poisoned people, he added.

    The police is investigating the incident which they said apparently occurred accidentally, the source added.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]