300 evacuated in Belgium after chemical train fire

Belgian authorities 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 local time 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,today.

The train came from the Netherlands and was bound for Gent-Zeehaven, the city's seaport.

Train services between Schellebelle and Wetteren were disrupted.