TWO children have died after suffering severe burns in an explosion that followed a train derailment in northern Italy, bringing the death toll to 16, officials said.
A three-year-old girl died at the Bambin Gesu hospital in Rome, said hospital official Marco Magheri.
A two-year-old boy died in the Meyer Hospital in Florence hospital, said spokesman Roberta Rezoalli.
Both children had suffered burns to 90% of their bodies.
The tragedy happened when a train carrying liquefied gas derailed while travelling through a residential area in the Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio at around midnight on Monday.
The derailment set off a massive explosion which caught many residents as they slept.
Twenty-seven people were injured, many of whom are in serious condition, said Transport Minister Altero Matteoli as he briefed politicians.
