23 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a head-on collision involving two passenger trains in southern Italy.
Officials say the two trains were on a single-track line at the time of the crash, between the coastal towns of Bari and Barletta.
It was unclear what led to the collision, which happened in good weather at 11:30 local time in the southern region of Puglia.
A local prosecutor in nearby Trani said it was too early to speculate on the cause, although human error was likely to have been a factor.
Italian reports said one of the trains had come from Andria, and the other from Corato, a short distance to the south-east. Both were travelling at high speed.
Both trains had four carriages and images from the fire service showed wreckage strewn across a large area. Some of the carriages were so badly damaged there was little left but debris.
Corato Mayor, Massimo Mazzilli said the damage was so extensive it was as if a plane had crashed.
Rescuers set up a field hospital at the scene to help care for the large number of wounded passengers.
The local authorities have appealed for blood donors to come forward.
Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi interrupted a trip to Milan and returned to Rome, after ordering an investigation into the crash.
“I want to express my condolences to the families and I have ordered, with no holding-back, an inquiry to find who is responsible,” he said.
Italy’s Transport Minister, Graziano Delrio was also at the scene with ministry inspectors and local prosecutors to survey the wreckage.