At least five people have been critically injured and 13 others hurt following a head-on train collision in Denmark, authorities have confirmed.

The crash occurred early Thursday on a railway line connecting the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup, northwest of Copenhagen. Police said a total of 37 people were on board the two trains at the time of the accident.

Emergency services responded immediately after the collision, which happened at approximately 06:29 local time. All injured passengers were transported to hospital by ambulance or airlift, according to Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department.

Local officials described the incident as deeply distressing. Trine Egetved, mayor of the Gribskov municipality, said she was “deeply shaken” and confirmed that those critically injured had been taken to the national hospital in Copenhagen.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed concern over what she called a “terrible train accident,” as authorities began investigating the cause.

The Danish Accident Investigation Board has launched an inquiry alongside police, examining all possible causes. Investigators say it is too early to determine what led to the crash but are considering multiple scenarios, including a potential signalling system failure or human error.

The trains, operated by Lokaltog, were shown in footage with significant front-end damage, having collided in a wooded area.

Rail operator officials described the incident as one of the most severe imaginable in the industry and said efforts are now focused on gathering data to understand how the collision occurred.

Authorities in the southeastern United States are battling a surge of wildfires across Georgia and Florida, as dry conditions and strong winds fuel rapid fire spread, destroying homes and forcing residents to evacuate.

Fire crews in Georgia responded to 34 new blazes on Wednesday alone, burning at least 75 acres statewide, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. The largest of the fires, known as the Pineland Road Fire, has expanded dramatically to nearly 30,000 acres and remains only 10% contained.

In Florida, officials say the state is facing one of its most severe wildfire seasons in decades, with more than 130 active fires currently burning. Emergency services are working around the clock to contain outbreaks as conditions continue to worsen.

Authorities in both states point to a combination of prolonged dry weather, strong winds, and limited rainfall as key factors complicating firefighting efforts. These conditions have allowed fires to spread quickly and unpredictably, increasing the risk to communities.

Evacuation orders have been issued in several affected areas, while firefighters continue to prioritise protecting lives and property. Officials warn that without significant rainfall, the wildfire threat could persist in the coming days.

Plans for renewed negotiations between the United States and Iran remain uncertain, as Tehran accuses both Washington and Israel of violating the terms of the fragile ceasefire.

Iranian officials said recent developments have undermined confidence in the diplomatic process. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Tehran’s chief negotiator with the U.S., stated that it was “not possible” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under current conditions, citing alleged ceasefire breaches.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed those concerns, saying that U.S. naval actions, threats, and what he described as a “breach of commitments” were major obstacles to restarting talks.

The tensions follow an incident earlier on Wednesday in which Iranian forces targeted three cargo vessels in the Strait. Two ships were reportedly seized for inspection by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, further raising fears about the security of one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

Despite the escalation, Donald Trump indicated that a resumption of talks could still be possible, suggesting negotiations might restart as early as Friday.

Elsewhere in the region, diplomatic efforts continue between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said discussions are underway to extend the current ceasefire deadline.

However, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Aoun also condemned the killing of a second French peacekeeper after a United Nations patrol was struck over the weekend. Emmanuel Macron blamed the Iran-backed group Hezbollah for the attack, an allegation the group has denied.

Further violence was reported in southern Lebanon, where two people were killed in a strike on a vehicle. The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out the attack, claiming the vehicle posed a threat to its troops.