BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgian authorities on Saturday evacuated nearly 300 people from their homes after several cars of a train carrying chemicals derailed, causing a major fire near the city of Gent.

Nobody was hurt in the accident which happened around 2:00 am (8am Singapore time) between the towns of Schellebelle and Wetteren, said Infrabel, the entity responsible for the Belgian railway network.

The blaze led to a series of explosions in the railway cars prompting authorities to evacuate residents living near the site of the accident.

The train came from the Netherlands and was bound for Gent-Zeehaven, the city's seaport.

Train services between Schellebelle and Wetteren were disrupted.