Belgian trains crash head-on, 20 feared dead

HALLE, Belgium (Reuters) - Two commuter trains crashed head-on near Brussels during the Monday morning rush hour and death toll estimates ranged from 10 to more than 20.

The passenger trains collided in snowy conditions near Halle, 15 km (9 miles) southwest of the Belgian capital at around 8:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. British time).

Belgian public broadcaster VRT quoted the mayor of Halle as saying that at least 20 people had been killed. Local media said the provincial governor had referred to at least 10 deaths.

Local officials and the train operator SNCB were unable to confirm a figure.

"There are certainly deaths, but it's very difficult to give a precise number at this point. There are people trapped inside," an SNCB spokesman told Reuters.

The two trains were crushed against each other, their fronts suspended in the air. "The first two carriages were completely squashed," said 37-year-old Hambaoui Mounir. "I was in the carriage right behind. The train fell to one side, people fell over each other, there was no air and women and children were screaming."

Train services, including the high-speed line between Brussels and Paris, have been suspended for the day. Eurostar said its services to Britain were also not running.

(Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Bate Felix; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)