At least five people have been killed and 25 hurt after a cargo train derailed and exploded in Bulgaria.

Around 20 buildings in the northeastern village of Hitrino - home to around 800 people - were wrecked in the blast, when two gas tank carriages struck a power line and detonated in flames.

Image: Firefighters at the scene of devastation in the village of Hitrino

Around 150 firefighters battled to put out blazes across a wide area and search for survivors in the ruins of the burnt-out properties close to the rail track.

Hitrino mayor Nuridin Basri told reporters children had been buried under the rubble of a house that collapsed.

Aerial images of Bulgaria train blast

Prime minister Boiko Borisov, who travelled to the scene of the disaster some 174 miles northeast of the capital Sofia, urged people to donate blood at the hospital where the injured are being treated.


He said: "There will be more casualties."

Image: Five people were killed in the deadly blast

He said several people suffered more than 90% burns and that damage from the explosion was extensive.

Interior ministry chief secretary Georgi Kostov said: "Two blasts have caused a serious fire and ruined at least 20 buildings. There are many people injured...many with burns."

Image: People injured in the crash were treated in hospital

Poilce, investigating the incident which happened at 5.40am local time, have questioned the train driver.

The train had been travelling from the Black Sea port of Burgas to the city of Ruse on the Danube.