10 dead in German train collision: rescuers

Up to 20 other people were seriously injured in the accident which happened at Hordorf near Oschersleben, in Saxony-Anhalt, late on Saturday, firemen and police said. They gave differing numbers.

There were also a number of others suffering minor injuries, according to officials.

The two trains were in flames after the collision.

The regional train, the HarzElbeExpress (HEX) travelling between Magdeburg and Halberstadt, "was the last train of the evening out of Magdeburg" on the line, a police spokesman said.

More than 150 firemen, police and rescue workers were at the scene. Rail traffic was interrupted.

The causes of the accident were not immediately known, the northeast region spokesman for the Veolia group which runs the HEX line told AFP.

There is a single line running between Magdeburg and Halberstadt and maintenance work was scheduled for the night, the HEX website said.

Traffic was interrupted on the line and bus shuttles were set up, a HEX staff member said contacted by telephone.

The Veolia spokesman said the train had a capacity of about 100 but could not say how many were on board at the time of the collision.

The goods train also belonged to a private company.

© Copyright AFP Agence France-Presse GmbH - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.