At least three people died and nine more were injured in a train fire in Bulgaria in the early hours of February 29, Focus news agency reported.

The train was travelling from Sofia to Kardam on the border with Romania, in Dobrich region. The fire started in a couchette carriage, which had 35 people in it at the time, and then spread to a sleeping coach with 27 people, according to Focus news agency.

It broke out as the train was entering the town of Cherven bryag, around 12.20am. Five of the injured people were released after receiving first aid, but the remaining four spent the night in the town's hospital, although their life is not in danger.

A full inspection would be carried out on the spot by prosecutors and local police to determine the cause of the fire, transport minister Petar Moutafchiev said. The rest of the passengers on the train were moved by bus to the nearby Roman station, from where they continued on to their destinations.