At least two people were killed and up to 70 injured in a huge explosion after two trucks collided on a motorway in Bologna.
The crash, in the Borgo Panigale district of the north Italian city, sent a massive fireball billowing into the sky.
Italian media said a lorry carrying cars collided on a bridge with another tanker lorry containing inflammable materials.
Part of a motorway bridge collapsed and the resulting explosion and fire spread to a car park below, where several other vehicles caught fire and exploded.
Bologna explosion
It has been reported at least 14 people suffered serious injuries, some with major burns.
Others are said to have been hit by flying glass when windows in nearby buildings shattered.
Firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene, on the Casalecchio link that connects the A1 to the A14, shortly after 2pm on Monday local time.
One local media outlet reported two police officers were caught in the blast as they directed traffic from a previous road accident.
Videos filmed by motorists showed massive plumes of swirling smoke in the sky.
Another, posted on social media by local firefighters, showed the dramatic scenes from a helicopter flying overhead.
One car passenger posted on Twitter: "I was literally looking out my window and suddenly there was a lot of fire in the air."
Bologna Police, which closed the motorway where the crash took place, said in a tweet: “Due to an accident on the Autostrada, an explosion occurred with the consequent fire at Via Marco Emilio Lepido.
“Circulation compromised, not only on the motorway, but also in the Borgo Panigale area.”
