At least 30 people have been killed after two express trains collided in southern Pakistan.

Rescuers and villagers have been working to pull injured people and bodies from the wreckage, and as many as 20 passengers are feared to be trapped.

Railway officials said about 1,100 people were on board the two trains at the time of the crash in Ghotki, a district in Sindh province.

The Millat Express train had derailed, with the Sir Syed Express hitting it soon afterwards.

“Right now the challenge for us is to quickly rescue those passengers who are still trapped in the wreckage,” deputy commissioner Usman Abdullah said.

Reports on Pakistani television have suggested that heavy machinery to help with the rescue effort took about four hours to arrive.

Dozens of others are feared to have been injured, and some are in a critical condition.

Train accidents are common in the country owing to a poorly maintained signal system and ageing tracks.

Related posts:

Explosive eruption sends ash column six miles into the sky as volcano rocks Caribbean island Thousands flee ash-covered communities after St Vincent volcano eruption WHO should have declared global COVID emergency earlier to prevent pandemic spread – panel Israel-Gaza conflict: What is happening and who is involved? ‘This is really out of control’: Chaos as food warehouses ransacked in more South Africa looting Desperate search for 14 workers trapped in flooded tunnel in China ‘Catastrophe’: 44 dead and more than 70 missing after floods in Germany and Belgium ‘Lab accidents happen’: WHO calls for more transparency from China about COVID origins Several people killed and others injured in bow and arrow attacks in Norway Norway bow and arrow attacks that killed five ‘appears to be act of terrorism’, country’s security agency says Austria to impose lockdown on all unvaccinated from midnight Austria imposes lockdown on unvaccinated citizens – as Europe becomes epicentre of pandemic