A search and rescue effort is taking place at the scene of a train crash in eastern Belgium, where a passenger train rammed the back of a freight train.  Three people are confirmed dead.

This happened before dawn on Monday on the route Mouscron-Liers, town of Hermalle-sous-Huyat; the train was traveling towards Liege.  It's not clear why the two trains were on the same track.  Witnesses told French media that at least three rail cars were destroyed.

Local emergency services were on site, a spokesperson explained that all the wounded had been evacuated and a team of investigators were working to determine the cause of the crash.

Francis Dejon, the mayor of the Saint-Georges-Sur-Meuse district said the impact of the crash was "very violent".