In a rail convoy, a sand hopper derailed, causing the subsequent derailment of 9 propane cars. After being perforated, one of the propane cars ignited spontaneously. The heat released then triggered the safety valve on a second car, creating a torch flame that in turn exploded a third car (BLEVE, vapour explosion). A fragment of car was blasted 180 m, and another piece slammed against the roof of a filling station, causing its collapse. The second car exploded 2 hours later. One of its fragments was projected 500 m. A fourth car exploded, destroying 3 buildings located along its trajectory. 35 minutes after that, another tank broke, followed a short time later by two new cars. The fragments of one of these last two wound up causing explosion of the last 2 tankers. In all, 66 people were hurt.