Moscow metro tunnel collapses, fire on train

MOSCOW, Mar 19 (Reuters) A fire broke out on a Moscow underground train after a part of the tunnel collapsed, emergency services today said.

There was no information on casualties. ''Our initial information is that there was a tunnel collapse and a fire broke out in one of the train carriages,'' said Emergencies Ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov.

Rescue crews have been sent to the scene. The spokesman said it was likely there had been people on the train at the time.

Passengers were being evacuated from the two adjacent subway stations, said Beltsov.

Russian news agencies, citing emergency services, said a beam had fallen from the tunnel and pierced one of the carriages, which then caught fire.

Services were suspended on the affected line and stations were shut, a Reuters witness said.

REUTERS DKS LR BST1811