May 4, 2013
BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgian authorities on Saturday evacuated nearly 300 people from their homes after several cars of a train carrying chemicals derailed, causing a major fire near the city of Gent.
Nobody was hurt in the accident which happened around 2:00 am (0000 GMT) between the towns of Schellebelle and Wetteren, said Infrabel, the entity responsible for the Belgian railway network.
The blaze led to a series of explosions in the railway cars prompting authorities to evacuate residents living near the site of the accident.
The train came from the Netherlands and was bound for Gent-Zeehaven, the city's seaport.
Train services between Schellebelle and Wetteren were disrupted.
