Ukrainian toxic cloud toll adds up to 157 victims

The phosphorus cloud formed after the derailing of a freight train in Ukraine caused the hospitalization of 157 people, out of which 27 are children, all diagnosed with phosphorus gas poisoning, the Ukrainian Health Ministry announced.

Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko declared that the Government attempts to keep secret the true dimension of the catastrophe, “continuing the Soviet practices, when problems were solved through comforting reports instead of professional actions”.