A 26-tank cargo train carrying liquid petroleum gas derailed and exploded in Bulgaria on Saturday morning, killing five people and injuring at least 27.

At 5:40 a.m. local time, two tank cars carrying propane-butane and propylene derailed near the station of Hitrino, a northeastern Bulgarian village, hit electricity lines and exploded into flames, police officials said.

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Authorities ordered evacuation as firefighters from surrounding municipalities were dispatched to help extinguish the blaze, cool the overturned gas tankers, and search for survivors.

Hitrino mayor Nuridin Basri told reporters that children had been buried under the rubble of a house that collapsed. "I cannot explain how powerful the explosion was... it was absolute apocalypse."

The disaster zone runs for five to six kilometers, he added. The engine driver survived and has been questioned for the authority's investigation of the accident.

Nikolay Nikolov, head of the country's firefighting department, said that at least 20 buildings were damaged in derailment and explosion.

"Two blasts have caused a serious fire and ruined at least 20 buildings. There are many people injured... many with burns," Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Georgi Kostov added.

Outgoing Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov visited the village a few hours after the blast and told reporters that there will be more casualties. Most of those injured endure severe burns to more than 90 percent of their bodies, and he urged people in the region to donate blood to the local hospital where the victims were transported.

The train was traveling from the Bulgarian Black Sea port city of Burgas to the Danubian city of Ruse. It was carrying 26 tanks, 20 of which were propylene, three were LPG, while another three were empty.

Hitrino is a village of about 800 people in the Shumen province, just about 300 kilometers away from Bulgaria's capital, Sofia.

TagsBulgaria, train, Hitrino, derailment, Explosion