13:41, 5 December 2003

Number of victims in explosion of Kislovodsk-Minvody train reached 32 people

The number of people who died in the explosion in the Kislovodsk-Minvody train near Essentuki has reached 32.

The total number of victims has reached 155 people, a spokesman for the South Regional Center of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations (MEC) told Interfax-South.

28 people died at the scene, the other 4 died in a hospital.

Rescuers keep on working at the site of the terrorist act.

According to the investigative bodies, the explosion was set off by a Shakhid woman.

The woman used a so called "Shakhid belt" with explosives, the capacity of which is estimated to be not less than 5 kilograms of trotyl equivalent, the source informed.

The Russian President's Plenipotentiary in the South Federal District Viktor Kazantsev has departed for the site of occurrence.

Source: Interfax News Agency