Two underground trains collided in rush hour in Rome, killing at least one person and injuring 60 others.

Radio and television journalists reported a second death, but authorities could not immediately confirm that.

Ambulances, firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II subway station, near the main railway station. The area was cordoned off.

The body of a woman apparently in her 30s was pulled from the rubble, officials said.

About 60 people were injured, including 10 seriously, Rome firefighters spokesman Luca Cari said.

Firefighters were working to free one more person trapped in the wreckage, Cari said.

"I saw lots of blood, the impact was brutal," said Andrew Trovaioli, a passenger on one of the two trains. Trovaioli suffered a slight injury to his elbow.

He said he saw about 10 people lying on the ground, and three of four covered in rubble.

"There was panic for some 30 seconds, we were not told how to get out," said 38-years-old Trovaioli.

Sky TV showed passengers coming out from the station covered in rubble, some in blood.

Officials said that one train was slowing down as it was approaching the station when it was hit by another one.

Some passengers said the driver of the second train appeared to have jumped a red light.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.