The video will start in 8 Cancel

News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

At least three people have been killed and more than 100 people injured after a train derailed during rush-hour commute in Italy this morning.

Approximately 10 people were left fighting for their lives after two cars peeled off the rails and came to rest at an angle.

A spokesman for state train firm Ferrovie dello Stato confirmed an accident had occurred in Pioltello, some 40 kilometres from Milan, just before 7am (6am GMT).

The Trenord commuter service was heading from Cremona into Milan's Garibaldi station.

According to first reports, between three and five people were killed, 10 were in critical condition and around 100 were injured, according to regional emergency official Cristina Corbetta.

Pictures showed the twisted wreckage of two carriages at the scene.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REUTERS) (Image: andrea Sparaciari)

Rescue teams were pulling people out of the wrecked carriages, Milan's deputy police chief Chiara Ambrosio told broadcaster SkyTG24.

"It was commuter hour, the train was full," she added.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

(Image: Vigili del Fuoco/Twitter) (Image: REUTERS)

"There are between three and five dead in the accident from what we know at the moment," a fire official told Reuters.

TV channels RaiNews24 and SkyTG24 showed footage of fire brigades trying to free people trapped inside the wagons of the train, which were bent by the impact.

Train circulation between Milan and the nearby city of Brescia was halted after the accident, Ferrovie dello Stato said in a statement.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

The accident caused massive delays along the railways connecting Milano and Venice, local media reports.

Trenord is a joint venture between railway operator FNM and one unit of state railway operator Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato.

In a statement FNM confirmed the accident had happened at Pioltello and said its Chairman Andrea Gibelli was on his way to the site.

FNM did not give any detail on casualties.