British transport police say three people have died and six were taken to hospital after a passenger train derailed in northeast Scotland amid stormy weather.

The train’s driver was among the dead in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning local time.

Multiple passengers were seriously injured in the incident which caused the train’s engine to reportedly erupt into a fireball and smoke to billow from the wreck.

Dramatic images show thick smoke over a woodland area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland after the horror unfolded at around 9.45am, local time.

Multiple passengers are feared seriously injured after a train derailed in Scotland causing the engine to reportedly erupt in a fireball. Picture: @ChristopherHarv

Dramatic images show thick black smoke billowing over a woodland area in Aberdeenshire after the horror unfolded at around 9.45am. local time. Picture: Chris HarveyFirst Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the situation as an “extremely serious incident”.

“The emergency services are currently on site and a major incident has been declared,” Sturgeon said.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the ‘serious’ train derailment in Scotland. Picture: Fraser Bremner – Pool/Getty Images“I am afraid to say that there are early reports of serious injuries,” she added.

Ms Sturgeon added that the incident happened in an area where it was difficult for emergency services to access.

Some 30 emergency vehicles were attending the scene of the derailment.

Network Rail Scotland, the company which looks after the rail infrastructure, said it was working alongside emergency services.

“It is too early to confirm the exact nature and severity of the incident and more details will be made available once known,” it said.

Local MP Andrew Bowie said a “major emergency service response” was underway and he had spoken to the British transport minister, Grant Shapps, about the incident.

“Thoughts with every single person involved,” tweeted Mr Bowie.

Thunderstorms and torrential rain had battered parts of central and eastern Scotland overnight.

The derailment occurred on Wednesday morning on the line at Stonehaven, British Transport Police (BTP) said in a tweet.