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Death toll climbs in Italian Riviera train-gas blast

  • Story Highlights
  • NEW: Death toll climbs to 11 people, including a child
  • Train, carrying gas tanks, derails while passing through station in coastal town
  • Five of the fatalities are victims of a resulting building fire, official says
  • Station and a few nearby buildings catch fire, are evacuated
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(CNN) -- The death toll climbed to at least 11 in a gas explosion from a cargo train on Monday in western Italy, a government official said Tuesday.

Flames engulf cars near the Viareggio railway station in western Italy on Monday.

Flames engulf cars near the Viareggio railway station in western Italy on Monday.

A child was among the dead, said Antonio Garufi, the local government official.

The number of injured had risen to 36, with 15 in critical condition. Most of the injuries were burns.

The train was carrying gas tanks when it derailed and exploded while passing through a station in the coastal town of Viareggio.

The explosion happened about 11:45 p.m. (5:45 p.m. ET) Monday.

The train was traveling from La Spezia to Pisa, Garufi said. The station and a few nearby buildings caught fire and were evacuated, he added.

CNN's Hada Messia in Rome contributed to this report

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