At least 20 people have been killed and scores more were injured after two trains collided head-on in southern Italy, firefighters say.
The incident is reported to have taken place on a single track near the town of Andria, in the Puglia region.
An image of the crash showed that the cars had been badly damaged and forced off the rails at sharp angles.
News reports said rescue workers are pulling injured people from the wreckage, including a small child. Video images showed ambulances responding to the scene.
National police and carabinieri could not immediately provide details about the extent of the crash.
Italy's prime minister Matteo Renzi said the crash 'is a moment of tears', and pledged not to stop until a cause is determined.
The mayor of nearby Corato has described the scene as horrific, and said rescue work involving firefighters, civil protection officials and volunteers is ongoing.
Massimo Mazzilli said rescuers had just pulled a passenger out alive, and are poised to extract a second one.
On his Facebook page, Mr Mazzilli posted photos of the wreckage.
He wrote: 'It's a disaster, as if an aeroplane fell. Rescue workers and civil protection are on the scene, but unfortunately there are victims.'
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