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The horror smash happened "in an inaccessible area" near the town of Bad Aibling in Bavaria.

One train derailed as a result of the collision, which happened on a single track.

Authories say ten people have died and around 80 have been injured.

Both drivers died in the horrific collision.

(Image: EPA/YouTube) (Image: AFP / GETTY)

Horrific footage has emerged on YouTube of the scene aboard the stricken train shortly after the crash.

Passengers, some of them covered in blood, can be heard moaning in pain.

A man walks through the darkened carriages immediately after the accident and before the emergency services arrived.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

It is believed one train's automatic safety braking system failed.

Germany's Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said: "The site is on a curve. We have to assume that the train drivers had no visual contact and hit each other without braking."

Police spokesman Stefan Sonntag added: "This is the biggest accident we have had in years in this region and we have many emergency doctors, ambulances and helicopters on the scene."

More than 80 passengers have been injured, around 20 seriously.

Some 700 rescue workers cut passengers free from the wreckage, police said.

Water police were drafted in on the nearby river Mangfall in the densely wooded and hilly area.

(Image: EPA) (Image: REUTERS)

It is unclear how busy the trains were and if there were any children on board.

Meriden, the company operating the services, said the crash was "a huge shock".

A spokesperson said it was "a tragic accident occurred on the single-track route".

(Image: REUTERS)

Eight rescue helicopters and countless ambulances rushed casualties to hospital.

The accident occured shortly after 7am local time.

The devastating smash happened near a sewage works on the route from Holzkirchen to Rosenheim, about 38 miles south of Munich.

It comes just months after a horrific train derailment in Eckwersheim, France, on the border with Germany.

(Image: EPA / REUTERS)

Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann spoke of his shock at a press conference this afternoon.

He said: "With the investment in the new automatic safety system I thought something like this was almost impossible to happen.

"Our thoughts are with their families. This accident will have a lasting impact on the rescuers too. There were unbelievable injuries."

(Image: GOOGLE) (Image: REUTERS)

Heiko Maas, the German justice minister, has tweeted his condolences.

He described the accident as "terrible news".

He added: "Our thoughts are with the victims and injured. Thanks to rescuers."

Authorities have launched an appeal for blood donors to come forward following the crash.

Head of Deutsche Bahn, the company which runs Germany's railways, said: "We are deeply affected by the accident. The injured and the families of the victims have our deepest sympathies.

"I have already expressed my dismay to Bayerische Oberlandbahn [the company which operates the route where the crash occurred]. We will of course support the investigating authorities in establishing the cause of the accident.

"I would like to express my thanks to the rescue services and everybody who helped at the scene for all their efforts."

For those worried about loved ones, German authorities have set up an information line on 00 49 395 43084390.