Italy train crash: At least 23 dead, dozens injured in southern Italy

The Scene Of The Crash

At least 23 people died and dozens were injured on Tuesday when two passenger trains collided at high speed in southern Italy, sending debris flying into surrounding olive groves.

Three carriages were torn apart by the violence of the impact after the two trains hit each other head-on as they travelled down the same stretch of track that links the small towns of Corato and Andria in the region of Puglia.

Both trains were made up of four carriages. The front carriages on each were pulverised as they slammed into one another. Sky Italia TV quoted sources as saying one of the drivers had died, with no word yet about the fate of the other one.

"It looks like there has been a plane crash," said the mayor of Corato, Massimo Mazzilli.