A Norwegian passenger train burns Tuesday after a collision near Åsta

January 4, 2000
Web posted at: 10:08 a.m. EST (1618 GMT)

ÅSTA, Norway (CNN) -- Several people were killed Tuesday and more were injured when two Norwegian passenger trains collided head-on at a train station about 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Oslo.

At least three people have been confirmed dead, but that number is expected to rise, perhaps to as many as 15. Fires that broke out aboard at least one of the passenger cars have hampered rescue and recovery efforts near Åsta.

One of the locomotives was overturned.

Ninety-six passengers were aboard the two trains. Helicopters and ambulances were transferring the injured, many with severe burns, broken bones and shock, to area hospitals.

Rescue leader Eirik Walle told the Norwegian news agency NTB that the rescue service was notified of the accident at 1:35 p.m. (1335)

	AUDIO
Bjorn Hansen from NRK Televison reports on the accident "Locomotive overturned and burning" 269K/25 sec. AIFF or WAV sound "Types of injuries ..." 284K/26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Robert Ulrichsen, a passenger aboard one of the trains, said there was no warning.

"The collision came like lightning from a clear sky," Ulrichsen said. "There was nothing before the collision indicating something was about to happen."

The national train service NSB said that one train was headed south from the city of Trondheim and the other was headed north from the city of Hamar. The collision took place near Åsta.

Morten Overbye of CNN Norge contributed to this report