At least two people have died and more than 20 are feared hurt in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in California, officials say.
At least 10 people have died and dozens have been hurt in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in California, officials say.
Several coaches were derailed, and rescuers are scouring the scene in the Chatsworth area, north of Los Angeles.
Several coaches were derailed before a fire broke out at the scene in Chatsworth, north of Los Angeles.
"I'm sure there are a lot of injuries," Ron Haralson from the Los Angeles County Fire Department was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Dozens of rescue workers rushed to the scene in an effort to free passengers from the wreckage. Much of the passenger train was badly twisted.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene of the accident, which happened at 1632 local time on Friday (2332 GMT), US officials said.
The accident happened at 1632 local time on Friday (2332 GMT), US officials said.
They battled a fire raging under one of the derailed carriages.
The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, told reporters that between 10 and 15 people had died in the crash, with more than 50 injured.
The Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department told AP at least two people had died.
"That's probably the most serious trainwreck to occur here in a very long time," the AFP news agency reported him saying.
More than 20 people are feared to have been injured, 10 of them seriously, officials say.
Aerial images of the crash scene showed several teams of rescuers using ladders to reach inside the Metrolink passenger train to pull the injured people.
Aerial images of the crash scene showed several teams of rescuers using ladders to reach inside the Metrolink passenger train to pull the injured people.
A number of injured people were treated near the scene, while some were airlifted to hospital, and there are fears that the death toll will rise further.
A number of injured people were treated near the scene, while some were airlifted to hospital, and there are fears that the death toll will rise further.
The passenger train was travelling from Los Angeles to Moorpark, north-west of the city, a Metrolink spokeswoman said.
The passenger train was travelling from Los Angeles to Moorpark, north-west of the city, a Metrolink spokeswoman said.
Up to 350 people could have been on the train, she said.
Up to 350 people could have been on the train, she said.
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