PRAGUE, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Czech firefighters were battling a large fire on Friday after a freight train carrying the highly flammable liquid chemical benzene derailed and burst into flames around midday in the eastern region of Olomouc.

A total of 15 tankers caught fire after the derailment in Hustopece nad Becvou. The flames engulfed five railway carriages and a locomotive, according to the local fire rescue department.

Firefighters have deployed heavy foam to prevent the fire from spreading further, while other tankers are being intensively cooled to prevent explosions. A helicopter was also deployed.

After battling the flames for hours, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control.

Currently, extinguishing work and chemical analysis are ongoing to eliminate the risk of further environmental contamination.

According to local media, the fire did not cause any casualties, but the damage to railway infrastructure and the environmental impacts of the incident are being assessed. Enditem

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