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PARIS, France (CNN) -- A passenger train collided head-on with a freight train in northeastern France on Wednesday, killing at least five people, rail officials said.
French and Luxembourg rescue officials said another three people remained trapped in the wreckage. They could not say if those three were alive or dead.
Another two people were seriously injured in the crash at Zoufftgen, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Luxembourg.
Officials lowered the death toll after earlier saying at least 11 people had been killed. "There are, without doubt, five victims, even if the work to free other (bodies) is not completely over," Dominique Perben told LCI television, adding it was less likely more victims would be found.
The passenger train was traveling from Luxembourg to the French city of Nancy. The freight train was on its way from Thionville to Luxembourg.
Luc Ankrai, the deputy police chief for Moselle told CNN the freight train collided with the passenger train at 11:45 a.m. (0945 GMT) in an area where there was only a single track open because of repair work being done.
According to Bertrand Mertz, vice-president of the Lorraine Regional Council, who was interviewed on French broadcaster France 3 Lorraine, the cause of the accident was a switching error in Luxembourg.
French railway officials said the French freight train was on the right track and had the green light to proceed.
The head of the Luxembourg railway told CNN he could not comment on whether there had been a switching error. He said an investigation was needed to establish the facts.
The passenger train was on its way from Luxembourg to Nancy. The freight train was on its way from Thionville to Luxembourg.
President Jacques Chirac ordered the government to "oversee the mobilization of all rescue services and quickly bring to light the circumstances of this dramatic accident," his office said, according to The Associated Press.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who was flying to the French Caribbean, decided to turn back to France so he could visit the scene of the crash, his office said.
French Transportation Minister Dominique Perben also announced he would go to the scene.
More than 300 police and rescue workers from both France and Luxembourg were at the scene.
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