Updated: Death toll hits 20 in Italy train crash

The death toll from a train crash in southern Italy has risen to 20, a regional official told reporters on Tuesday, adding that dozens of people were in a hospital, some with serious injuries.

The previous toll was initially put at 10.

The head-on collision between two trains happened on a single stretch of track in the countryside between the towns of Corato and Andria, in the southern heel of Italy.

An aerial image showed train carriages were smashed and crumpled by the head-on collision, with debris spread out on either side of the track.

“I believe there are many dead,” said Riccardo Zingaro, captain of the Andria fire brigade.

“There was a head-on collision on a single track, several carriages were completely crushed and the emergency workers are pulling people out of the train, there are many injured.”

According to a report, rescue workers are pulling victims from the rubble, including a small child who was alive.

National police and Carabinieri couldn’t immediately give details about the extent of the crash, saying they were in the middle of responding.

Italy’s prime minister says the train crash “is a moment of tears” and has pledged not to stop until a cause is determined.

Matteo Renzi was speaking in Milan after the head-on collision in the southern region of Puglia on Tuesday morning.

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