20 die when trains collide in Italy, officials say

Two commuter trains slammed into each other head-on in southern Italy on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, authorities said.

The four-car trains collided near the town of Andria in Puglia, where trains operate on single tracks. Firefighters were working to extract bodies and wounded passengers from the twisted metal of the first cars on each train.

Giuseppe Corrado, deputy head of Andria Province, put the death toll at 20 but said a final count could not immediately be determined due to the extensive damage.

"Some of the cars are completely crumpled and the rescuers are extracting people from the metal, many of them injured," local police chief Riccardo Zingaro told Sky News.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi cut short a visit to Milan and was expected to visit the crash site Tuesday night.

"Tears and sorrow for the victims and their families," Renzi tweeted. "But also a lot of anger. We demand clarity on what has happened in Puglia this morning."

Italian President Sergio Mattarella agreed, telling the Italian news agency ANSA that "responsibilities and possible shortcomings must be immediately and precisely ascertained."

Transport Minister Grazinao Delrio said the death toll was "evolving." He said it was not clear what caused the crash, and that a commission of inquiry would be set up to investigate. Corato Mayor Massimo Mazzilli said the collision looked as deadly as a plane crash.

Private regional rail company Ferrotramviaria, which operates the line, said one of the train driver's was killed, the fate of the other was not immediately determined. The company issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims and their families.

More than 30 people were injured, several critically. Three were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Barletta, local public health authorities told ANSA. Scheduled surgeries were postponed and off-duty medical staff were brought in to deal with the crisis.

Rescuers set up a field hospital at the scene. One of those rescued from the wreckage was a small child who was airlifted to a hospital, BBC said.

Ferrotramviaria, based in the Adriatic Sea port city of Bari, provides service connecting area municipalities and the Bari airport. The company owns more than 20 trains, according to its website.

Contributing: Jane Onyanga-Omara