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Georgia train on fire after hitting mine

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-24 19:23

TBILISI, Georgia -- A train carrying oil products hit a landmine on Sunday, causing at least two tanker cars to burst into flames and send thick clouds of black smoke skyward, a Georgian official said.

Firefighters work to extinguish a burning fuel train with oil from Azerbaijan, in Gori, about 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 24, 2008. The train exploded on Sunday on Georgia's main East-West rail line and police said it appeared to have hit a landmine. [Agencies]

There are no immediate reports of casualties in the blast near the central city of Gori.

Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili blamed Russia for the blast. Russia has pulled most its troops out of Georgia after days of fighting.

Utiashvili said the train may have been carrrying petroleum products from Azerbaijan toward a Georgian Black Sea port. He said two tanker cars were burning, but a television report said 10 of the cars were in flames.

Georgian television said two nearby houses were damaged and windows were blown out.