Oct 31, 2019

Train fire in Pakistan kills at least 71

Firefighters work to cool down the burnt-out train carriages.

Firefighters cool down the burnt-out train carriages on Oct. 31. Photo: Waleed Saddique/AFP via Getty Images

At least 71 people died Thursday after a cooking stove onboard a train in Pakistan exploded and engulfed multiple carriages in flames, per the New York Times.

Why it matters: Train accidents have become frequent on the country's railways as a result of poor maintenance, corruption and lax safety standards. Pakistani officials recorded at least 80 accidents between July 2018 and July 2019.

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