JERUSALEM, June 21 (Xinhuanet) -- At least seven people were killed and about 190 injured when a passenger train collided with a truck in central Israel on Tuesday and police said the accident was obviously not a "terror attack."

Israeli rescue workers survey wreckage. (AFP)

   The tragedy occurred when a train traveling from the coastal city of Tel Aviv to the southern town of Beersheba collided with a truck that had apparently broken down on the tracks, Israel Radio reported.

   About 190 were injured, 17 of them critically and 47 moderately as many passengers were buried under two train cars which derailed and were completely crushed due to the collision, police said.

   It is the largest train accident in Israel's history.

Israeli soldiers check the site of an accident between a train and a truck in Revadim.

   Reports from the scene said a truck loaded with coal ashes crossed the train tracks from a dirt road and crashed into the rear cars of the train. The truck was torn apart by the force of the collision and the train was derailed and two of its cars overturned.

   The train was packed with passengers and some of them were standing in the aisles, Israel Radio reported.

   Police denied the collision was caused by a suicide bomber, saying "with 100 percent certainty" that the fatal crash was not a terror attack of any type.

A wounded Israeli man

   Israeli Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit told Israel Army Radio that there was no possibility that the accident was a terror attack as the truck driver, who was killed on the spot, was Jewish.

   Shlomi Silver, secretary of the Israeli Train company, said the reason behind the accident was not yet entirely clear.

   The place where the accident happened was an isolated sunflower field, an open area with an unblocked vision, Silver said, adding that the truck was coming from a dirt road which crosses over the tracks and local drivers knew they should keep on alert at the junction.

   The company's accident investigator would come up with a report in the next few days, Silver added.

   A paramedic who was at the scene told Israel Radio "there were dozens of dead and injured. It's a very difficult sight."

   Till Tuesday evening, search and rescue teams continued to scour the site for casualties with the help of floodlights.

   Soldiers and border police officers kept back bystanders, as rescue teams searched with dogs and collected passengers' bags, strewn alongside train wheels.

   Rescue forces said they had difficulty in arriving at the scene of the accident as it occurred at an intersection between the rail line and a dirt road.

   Israel Air Force helicopters joined the evacuation of the casualties. Five fire fighting teams and ambulance crews were also aiding in rescue efforts.

   At least five hospitals, including one in Jerusalem, were receiving evacuatees from the accident. Enditem