GORI, Georgia, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A loud explosion was heard west of the Georgian town of Gori on Sunday, a Reuters correspondent reported, and police said it appeared a train carrying fuel had hit a land mine.

"According to very preliminary information, a train carrying fuel exploded on the railway, which we think was mined," Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told Reuters. There was no independent confirmation Utiashvili's comments.

(Reporting by Margarita Antidze; writing by Matt Robinson; editing by Giles Elgood)

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