At least 13 people were killed and 36 injured overnight when a train hauling liquefied petroleum gas derailed and exploded as it passed their homes in northern Italy, officials said.

About a thousand people were evacuated just after the blast shook people from their beds near the train station in the Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio, about 350 km north of Rome.

Firefighters battled overnight to contain blazes started by the blast. Television showed the fire spreading down city streets, setting cars and nearby buildings alight.

At least two children were among the dead, officials said.

"Let me see him! Let me see him!," screamed one man trying to see his grandson, ANSA news agency reported

ANSA said two nearby buildings collapsed.

State railways said the accident occurred when one carriage derailed, pulling another 4 with it. Liquefied petroleum gas escaped from a tank on one of the carriages and caught fire.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.