Five people have been killed after a freight train derailed and exploded in Bulgaria, emergency services said.

Bulgaria's BTA news agency reported more than 20 people were in hospital with burns and fractures after the incident in the village of Hitrino.

Locals were being evacuated as a precaution, a police official said.

At least 20 buildings were damaged in the derailment and blast, spokesperson Nikolay Nikolov told Bulgaria's Nova television.

Local media reported the train was carrying liquid petroleum gas.

The derailment happened at around 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), BTA said.