ROME (Sputnik) – Two trains collided on Tuesday in the southern Italian province of Bari in the Apulia region, leaving at least 27 people killed and dozens injured, local media reported.
❗ACCIDENT ITALIE: Le bilan monte à au moins 12 morts dans la collision frontale de deux trains, près de Bari. pic.twitter.com/7Dsr2yCkSz
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) July 12, 2016
The hea of the southern Italian province where the collision occurred said that death toll climbed to 20.
Many passengers may still be trapped in the carriages. Rescuers have pulled a child out of the wreckage, who was airlifted via helicopter to a regional hospital.
The collision took place between the towns of Andria and Corato at about 11:30 a.m. local time (09:30 GMT), the RaiNews TV channel reported.
Train collision #Puglia near #Bari (Italy), numerous deaths reported pic.twitter.com/yfZ6bJboba
— Roeland Roovers (@r0eland) July 12, 2016
Ambulance cars and fire vehicles arrived at the site.
Le immagini che arrivano sono davvero raccapriccianti #Puglia #andria #scontrotreni pic.twitter.com/8tcMGvUi2G
— Andrea Alfano (@laccio) July 12, 2016
Ricardo Zingaro, the head of the municipal department of Andria, arrived at the scene and said he feared there might be more dead.
#Italie: au moins dix morts dans une collision de trains #Bari https://t.co/wBheEKFq1R pic.twitter.com/n5rQcvuGof
— Tunis Tribune (@tunistribune) July 12, 2016
The train's passenger cars literally crumpled into pieces; sheet of metal flew dozens of meters from the sides of the tracks. One of the trains had only two carriages which remained almost intact, local media wrote.
#Puglia, due treni regionali si sono scontrati a nord di #Bari causando almeno dieci morti e decine di feriti. pic.twitter.com/XxkRDYSETA
— 360° (@360Giornale) July 12, 2016
The area where the collision occured has a single track. There are no buildings nearby. About 200 trains pass on the line per day.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in the beginning of his speech at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan, has expressed his condolences to the families of the railway accident victims. After a brief greeting in the museum, the prime minister said he should immediately return to Rome to monitor the situation. Renzi also called for a speedy investigation of the tragedy.
