A subway train has crashed into another one ahead of it at a station in southern Rome, throwing passengers to the floor and injuring a dozen people.

Passengers emerging from the station reported feeling the impact, seeing sparks and ending up on the floor in the dark. They scrambled out thanks to lights on mobile phones.

Rome transport chief Guido Improta said 12 people were injured, two seriously with broken bones.

He said the trains were going in the same direction, at no more than 18mph, and that the rear train "apparently didn't take into account the signs and speed indications that needed to be respected".

Rome has two main subway lines. The incident occurred on the B line at the Palasport station in EUR, a modern and largely residential neighbourhood.

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