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| At least 22 killed as two trains collide in southern Italy | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Emergency services are working to free people from the wreckage of a head-on collision of two trains in southern Italy that left at least 22 people dead and dozens more injured. | |
| The trains crashed on a single stretch of track through an olive grove between the towns of Corato and Andria in Puglia. | The trains crashed on a single stretch of track through an olive grove between the towns of Corato and Andria in Puglia. |
| “Tears and pain for the victims and their families. But also a lot of anger. We demand clarity on what happened in Puglia this morning,” Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, wrote on social media. He cut short a visit to Milan to travel to Puglia. | “Tears and pain for the victims and their families. But also a lot of anger. We demand clarity on what happened in Puglia this morning,” Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, wrote on social media. He cut short a visit to Milan to travel to Puglia. |
| It was not immediately clear how many people had been on the trains or who the victims were. National media reported that at least one of the train drivers had been killed. | It was not immediately clear how many people had been on the trains or who the victims were. National media reported that at least one of the train drivers had been killed. |
| A railway police officer, commander Giancarlo Conticchio, told Sky TG24 that 43 people had been injured, and that there could still be changes in the final toll. | |
| “Surely one of the two trains shouldn’t have been there. And surely there was an error,” he said. “We need to determine the cause of the error.” | |
| “It looks like there has been a plane crash,” said the mayor of Corato, Massimo Mazzilli, who published photos of firemen working through the wreckage. | “It looks like there has been a plane crash,” said the mayor of Corato, Massimo Mazzilli, who published photos of firemen working through the wreckage. |
| Luca Cari, a spokesman for the fire brigade, said. “We are working with dozens of rescue teams to open up the carriages. The rescue is complicated because this happened in the middle of the countryside.” | Luca Cari, a spokesman for the fire brigade, said. “We are working with dozens of rescue teams to open up the carriages. The rescue is complicated because this happened in the middle of the countryside.” |
| He said they had recovered a young boy alive from the wreckage. | He said they had recovered a young boy alive from the wreckage. |
| Each train was made up of four carriages. An aerial image showed carriages smashed and crumpled by the collision, and debris spread out on either side of the track. Four carriages were left standing upright on the rails, a fifth had jumped off the tracks, and the other three appeared pulverised. | Each train was made up of four carriages. An aerial image showed carriages smashed and crumpled by the collision, and debris spread out on either side of the track. Four carriages were left standing upright on the rails, a fifth had jumped off the tracks, and the other three appeared pulverised. |
| A police officer at the crash site said passengers were calling for help and crying. “A horrific scene, unbelievable,” he told Rai News. “The worst scene of my life.” | A police officer at the crash site said passengers were calling for help and crying. “A horrific scene, unbelievable,” he told Rai News. “The worst scene of my life.” |
| In the aftermath of the crash, a number of survivors sat under olive trees next to the carriages. “I went barefoot under the wreckage. I dug my way out under the metal pieces and was able to save my husband. I saw people in pieces,” one survivor told Telesveva. | In the aftermath of the crash, a number of survivors sat under olive trees next to the carriages. “I went barefoot under the wreckage. I dug my way out under the metal pieces and was able to save my husband. I saw people in pieces,” one survivor told Telesveva. |
| One man said he had been listening to music when the crash happened. “At a certain point I found myself on the floor, and I immediately got up. I saw the train conductor who was on the floor,” he said, adding that it was five minutes before he was able to escape from the train. | One man said he had been listening to music when the crash happened. “At a certain point I found myself on the floor, and I immediately got up. I saw the train conductor who was on the floor,” he said, adding that it was five minutes before he was able to escape from the train. |
| Local authorities issued an urgent appeal for blood donors on Tuesday afternoon, requesting the “maximum collaboration” of citizens and asking everyone in good health to go to the Andria hospital to donate. | Local authorities issued an urgent appeal for blood donors on Tuesday afternoon, requesting the “maximum collaboration” of citizens and asking everyone in good health to go to the Andria hospital to donate. |
| “It is important that everyone is aware of the importance of this gesture of solidarity, essential to guarantee the continuing availability of blood during this emergency,” the Puglia region said on Facebook. | “It is important that everyone is aware of the importance of this gesture of solidarity, essential to guarantee the continuing availability of blood during this emergency,” the Puglia region said on Facebook. |
| There was no immediate reason given for the collision. Italy’s transport minister, Graziano Delrio, was due to travel to Puglia and dispatched two government officials to examine the crash site. | There was no immediate reason given for the collision. Italy’s transport minister, Graziano Delrio, was due to travel to Puglia and dispatched two government officials to examine the crash site. |
| Renzi’s comments were echoed on Twitter by the speaker of Italian parliament, Laura Boldrini, who said: “Close to the families of victims and those injured in the head-on train crash in Puglia. I hope that there will soon be clarity on the cause of the disaster.” | Renzi’s comments were echoed on Twitter by the speaker of Italian parliament, Laura Boldrini, who said: “Close to the families of victims and those injured in the head-on train crash in Puglia. I hope that there will soon be clarity on the cause of the disaster.” |
| The EU’s commissioner for transport, Violeta Bulc, expressed her condolences online and said she was following the situation closely. | The EU’s commissioner for transport, Violeta Bulc, expressed her condolences online and said she was following the situation closely. |
| The stretch of track is operated by a private regional rail company, Ferrotramviaria, which has not yet commented on the incident. | The stretch of track is operated by a private regional rail company, Ferrotramviaria, which has not yet commented on the incident. |
| The last major rail disaster in Italy was in 2009 when a freight train derailed in Viareggio, in the centre of the country. More than 30 people living close to the tracks were killed in the subsequent fire. | The last major rail disaster in Italy was in 2009 when a freight train derailed in Viareggio, in the centre of the country. More than 30 people living close to the tracks were killed in the subsequent fire. |
| Tuesday’s crash occurred north of the regional capital, Bari, in countryside less than 10 miles from coast. Reputed for its olive oil production in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia has in recent years become increasingly popular with foreign tourists. | Tuesday’s crash occurred north of the regional capital, Bari, in countryside less than 10 miles from coast. Reputed for its olive oil production in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia has in recent years become increasingly popular with foreign tourists. |