Bogota - An attack allegedly perpetrated by leftist rebels on Tuesday caused a freight train to derail in northern Colombia, authorities said.

The attack on the train happened near the town of Uribia, in the north-eastern Colombian province of La Guajira, on the border with Venezuela. It caused the derailment of 40 of the train's 110 cars, but no one was injured.

The train was carrying coal from the El Cerrejon mine, the largest open-pit coal mine in the world, also in La Guajira. (dpa)