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 carrying benzene derailed in eastern Czech Republic, igniting a large chemical fire, as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.

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.

Authorities in the Czech Republic announced Saturday that a fire caused by the derailment of a freight train carrying benzene had been extinguished. A fire brigade spokesman told Noviny.cz that several small fires were put out overnight at the site of Friday's accident near Hustopeče nad Bečvou.