Six people have died in a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark, police confirm. Another 16 people are injured.

The accident occurred at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. According to the train company DSB, the deceased were passengers on board.

– This is a very serious accident, says Arne Gram, head of the police on Funen, during a press conference.

According to DSB, there were 131 passengers on board, as well as three staff members. The freight train was on its way to the Carlsberg brewery in Fredericia and the passenger train to Copenhagen. Pictures from inside the train show broken glass and damage to the interior of the train. The 16 injured are not said to have life-threatening injuries.

– We still don't know exactly what the cause is, but we can conclude that goods have overturned from a freight wagon and then an eastbound train has hit it. And it has caused significant damage to the train in connection with this, says Police Inspector Lars Bræmhøj.

Simon Voldsgaard Tøndering was on the train and describes to Politiken how the train suddenly started shaking and sparks could be seen outside the train. Once the train stopped and rescue services were quickly on site, he helped the injured off the train and broke the window of the next carriage to get more people out.

Carlsberg writes on its website that it has received confirmation that a freight train carrying the company's goods was involved. "We are deeply concerned by the accident," Carlsberg writes.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expresses sadness over the accident.

”"This morning's tragic accident on the Great Belt Bridge with many fatalities and injuries has shaken us all. My thoughts go out to the victims of the accident and their families," he says in a press release.

Source: sverigesradio.se