An Australian has been killed in a stampede at an outdoor music festival in Germany.

Nineteen people were killed and 45 seriously injured at the Love Parade in the city of Duisburg north of Dusseldorf on Saturday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) says a 27-year-old woman from New South Wales died in the crush of people who surged through an entry tunnel.

A spokesman for DFAT says the Australian Embassy in Berlin is seeking urgent advice from the German authorities to determine whether any other Australians were caught in the stampede.

Witnesses said the trouble started as crowds trying to reach a parade area pushed into people trying to leave.

During the panic, victims fell and were crushed by people trying to flee the area.

At least 10 people were revived at the scene but paramedics and police were too late for many.

Helicopters were used to ferry the injured to local hospitals.

The Love Parade is one of the biggest techno music festivals in the world and used to be held in Berlin.

Police had been concerned about the massive buildup of revellers who were overwhelming the access points to the festival.

They decided to allow the festival to continue, fearing another panic if they tried to call it off.