A railroad accident at Ryongchon, near the Chinese border, caused an explosion and fire that killed 163 and injured over 1300. Several thousand houses and apartments were destroyed or severely damaged. A huge explosion, which left a crater fifty feet deep, destroyed houses up to five kilometers away. The accident was caused by an electrical fire (started when a railroad car knocked down a power pole), that set off explosives, fertilizer and petroleum products being carried by two trains. In addition to the main explosion, there were several others, plus many fires.