Buildings Collapsed Completely around Yongcheon Station

An official of the International Federation Red Cross of Beijing, China announced that at least 54 people were killed and 1,246 people hurt due to the explosion at Yongcheon station of North Korea around noon on April 22. It was also said that most buildings within a 500m radius from the station building were destroyed.

North Korea asked the International Federation Red Cross and China for urgent support.

According to correspondents who witnessed the spot of accident and crossed to Dandong, a border town, there were many staff members and passengers at that time of accident, and there is a possibility of an increasing number of casualties as time goes by if it includes victims of the surrounding buildings’ collapse.

Four buildings including Yongcheon Middle School and a building of the National Security Board within a 500m radius from the station building were completely destroyed, and even some parts of a 4~5 story apartment crumbled down.

One correspondent said that it seems to have exploded because of the spark generated from an electric line, which was cut down by gust the day before, and touched a freight car loading LP gas which stopped outside a railway line.

In relation to this, China`s Xinhua news agency reported that the accident happened as nitric acid ammonium on the train was exposed, citing an explanation of an official in the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang.

Dandong correspondent reported that “the North Korean authority had dismantled all explosives and gas vehicles on the railway line which is used by a special train. The train was for its leader Kim Jong-il as he returned to Pyongyang after visiting China. The accident occurred while moving the dismantled vehicles to the railway line again after Kim had passed the Yongcheon station.”

It also said, “A fair amount of vehicles loading medicine got over from Dandong to Sinuiju just after the accident, and two ambulances were seen to be heading towards North Korea on the morning of April 23.”

China`s Xinhua news agency reported, “It was confirmed that two Chinese were killed and 12 were injured by the explosion.”

A spokesman of the U.S. Department of State, Richard Boucher, stated in a regular briefing on April 22 that, “We are closely watching news about the North Korean train explosion. We are always ready to give humanitarian aid to North Korean residents.” The Australian government showed its will to support as well.

Yoo-Seong Hwang Young-Sik Kim yshwang@donga.com spear@donga.com