MAKHACHKALA, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - A freight train in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan was washed off the rails in the early hours of Monday as a result of heavy rain, a local emergency services spokesman said.

The incident occurred overnight on the railway line between Kizilyurt and Shamkhal, when an engine and eight freight cars carrying construction materials were derailed.

No casualties were reported but 150-200 m (500-650 ft) of track was destroyed.

"The train was derailed as a result of the destruction of an embankment caused by heavy rain," the spokesman said.

Russian Railways told RIA Novosti that the incident was the result of a dam breach, caused when a nearby reservoir and canal became too full.

Emergency workers are at the scene and trains between Rostov and Baku, Tyumen and Baku, and Astrakhan and Makhachkala have been held up.