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| Belgium train crash: Three killed, nine hurt near Liege | Belgium train crash: Three killed, nine hurt near Liege |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least three people have been killed and nine injured in a train crash in the Belgian town of Hermalle-sous-Huy, near Liege, reports say. | At least three people have been killed and nine injured in a train crash in the Belgian town of Hermalle-sous-Huy, near Liege, reports say. |
| A passenger train crashed into the back of a goods train at high speed at about 23:00 (21:00 GMT), said Belgium's rail infrastructure manager, Infrabel. | A passenger train crashed into the back of a goods train at high speed at about 23:00 (21:00 GMT), said Belgium's rail infrastructure manager, Infrabel. |
| The two trains were on the same track, a spokesman for Infrabel said. | The two trains were on the same track, a spokesman for Infrabel said. |
| A local mayor said the passenger train was in a terrible state and it was fortunate there were no more victims. | A local mayor said the passenger train was in a terrible state and it was fortunate there were no more victims. |
| Francis Dejon, major of Saint-Georges-Sur-Meuse province, said the front carriage of the passenger train had completely folded back on itself. | Francis Dejon, major of Saint-Georges-Sur-Meuse province, said the front carriage of the passenger train had completely folded back on itself. |
| The train, with about 40 people on board, was travelling between Liege and Namur at about 90km/h (55mph) when it hit the goods train. | The train, with about 40 people on board, was travelling between Liege and Namur at about 90km/h (55mph) when it hit the goods train. |
| "Two of the six carriages derailed and are lying on the tracks," said a statement issued by Infrabel and national rail operator NMBS/SNCB. | "Two of the six carriages derailed and are lying on the tracks," said a statement issued by Infrabel and national rail operator NMBS/SNCB. |
| Some of those injured had to be freed from the wreckage and are in critical condition, officials say. | Some of those injured had to be freed from the wreckage and are in critical condition, officials say. |
| 'Lightning strike' | 'Lightning strike' |
| Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. | Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. |
| Infrabel has begun an investigation into the crash. | Infrabel has begun an investigation into the crash. |
| There has been no comment as to why the trains were on the same track. | There has been no comment as to why the trains were on the same track. |
| Infrabel said there had been what it called a "lightning incident" on the track earlier on Sunday and a tweet by SNCB had mentioned a signalling fault on the line at 21:30 local time on Sunday, although it said this had been cleared and services were normal. | Infrabel said there had been what it called a "lightning incident" on the track earlier on Sunday and a tweet by SNCB had mentioned a signalling fault on the line at 21:30 local time on Sunday, although it said this had been cleared and services were normal. |
| "The investigation into the cause of the rail crash is fully under way. The lightning strike is a possible line of inquiry, but there are still safety systems which are supposed to come into place," spokesman Frederic Petit told public broadcaster VRT. | "The investigation into the cause of the rail crash is fully under way. The lightning strike is a possible line of inquiry, but there are still safety systems which are supposed to come into place," spokesman Frederic Petit told public broadcaster VRT. |
| In February 2010, 18 people were killed when two passenger trains collided at Halle, south-west of the capital, Brussels. | In February 2010, 18 people were killed when two passenger trains collided at Halle, south-west of the capital, Brussels. |
| Two people died and 14 were hurt in May 2013 when a train carrying toxic, flammable chemicals derailed and caused a major fire near the city of Ghent. | Two people died and 14 were hurt in May 2013 when a train carrying toxic, flammable chemicals derailed and caused a major fire near the city of Ghent. |
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