The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has formally asked for help from the international communities over Thursday's fatal train explosion, the United Nations said Friday.

"A formal request for international assistance in response to the disaster was received by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Pyongyang this afternoon from the government," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.

According to initial reports of the DPRK's Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee, the explosion, which happened in the town of Ryongchon near the Chinese border, injured more than 1,000people and that 50 bodies have so far been recovered.

"The explosion reportedly caused major damage to housing and infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. Initial reports from the government indicate that more than 1,800 dwellings have been completely destroyed," said OCHA.

A mission composed of representatives of the United Nations, the International Committee of Red Cross, aid agencies and diplomats are going to the accident site Saturday to assess the humanitarian needs.

"Initial reports from the government received today indicate that the accident happened during shunting operations at the station. According to the Government the explosives were en route to a construction site for a large scale irrigation project," said OCHA.

A spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund said his agency is planning to take medicines and first-aid supplies to the region.

"We don't need an assessment mission to know that after an accident there is a need for first-aid supplies in these hospitals that are lacking everything," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2004)