Czech firefighters are battling a major blaze in eastern Czech Republic after a freight train derailed and carcinogenic benzene from damaged tank wagons caught fire.

A freight train derailment in eastern Czech Republic on Friday sparked a massive chemical fire, sending thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. The incident occurred near the train station in the town of Hustopeče nad Bečvou around noon local time (1100 GMT),

A goods train carrying toxic and flammable benzene derailed in the east of the Czech Republic, with the engine and at least five tank trucks catching alight, the fire services reported on Friday. Images showed a plume of black smoke following the derailment near the small town of Hustopece nad Becvou.