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.
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 before a fire broke out at the scene in Chatsworth, north of Los Angeles.
Several coaches were derailed before a fire broke out at the scene in Chatsworth, north of Los Angeles.
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.
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.
The accident happened at 1632 local time on Friday (2332 GMT), US officials said.
'Total destruction'
The crash happened at 1632 local time on Friday (2332 GMT), US officials said.
I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad Phil Thiele, Metrolink passenger
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 mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, told reporters that between 10 and 15 people had died in the crash, with more than 50 injured.
"That's probably the most serious trainwreck to occur here in a very long time," the AFP news agency reported him saying.
"That's probably the most serious trainwreck to occur here in a very long time," the AFP news agency reported him saying.
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.
The front coach of the Metrolink passenger train derailed and was wrapped around the engine after the collision. Two other coaches of the train remained upright.
Aerial images of the crash scene showed several teams of rescuers using ladders to reach inside the mangled front coach 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.
Los Angeles City Fire Captain John Virant described the scene as "total destruction".
"It was chaos. The injuries are crushing," he was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times newspaper.
Capt Virant said firefighter were trying to cut - piece by piece - each train carriage.
"They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors," he said.
The Union Pacific freight train was badly damaged in the accident. Officials say two people - the engineer and the conductor - were on board the train.
Desperate scenes
"I heard a loud crash and I saw black smoke... some people were mangled pretty bad," Phil Thiele, one of the passengers in the front coach, told the Los Angeles Times.
He said he tried to help one man who was pinned between seats: "I tried my damnedest to get him out but I just couldn't."
Mr Thiele also said one woman appeared to have a serious head injury.
The 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.
The collision happened on a curving track near Stoney Point Park.
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