As rescuers resumed sifting through the wreckage of Monday's fatal train crash near the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica today, the death toll in the accident rose to 45, according to latest reports from the city.

 

The train was en route from the northern city of Bijelo Polje to the capital, when it came off the tracks and plunged into the Moraca river canyon near Bioce, a village 15 km northeast of Podgorica, at around 5 PM local time (1500 GMT) on Monday.

 

Among the fatalities were five passengers who died overnight. Some 198 people were injured in the accident, many of whom were school children returning from a skiing trip. About 300 people are believed to have been on board the train.

 

Rescuers had done all they could in the face of rough terrain and strong winds, said Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

 

This has been the worst rail accident in Montenegro's history, said Deputy Prime Minister Miroslav Ivanisevic. Montenegro has announced three days of mourning for the victims.

 

Initial reports quoted Montenegrin Interior Minister Jusuf Kalamperovic as saying the derailment was caused by a brake failure.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2006)