Three people were killed and 40 others injured when a passenger train collided with a freight train in Belgium Sunday night, local media quoted authorities as saying.

Earlier reports said the tragedy, which occurred in the town of Hermalle-sous-Huy in the province of Liege, injured at least 30 people.

The accident occurred around 11:15 p.m. (2115 GMT) and the collision was obviously "very violent," said Belga news agency.

The passenger train has its first two carriages destroyed, it said. Emergency services rushed to the scene around midnight.