Scores injured in Israeli train fire

Parts of an Israeli train carrying 400 passengers have caught fire, leaving tens of people injured north of Tel Aviv, near Netanya city.

A fire engulfed three of the train’s carriages near Kibbutz Shfaim, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Tel Aviv, on Tuesday.

“Forty-eight passengers have been hospitalized, nearly all of them suffering from minor injuries due to smoke inhalation or broken windows,” AFP quoted an emergency services spokesman as saying.

It has been reported that up to four passengers have been seriously injured.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that “investigation was opened to determine the cause of the fire.”

Israel’s army radio said that while some consider an electrical shortage as the cause of the fire, others believe a fuel leak has led to the fire.