Washington  - A subway train derailed and collided with a second train Monday in the US capital Washington with at least one person killed and many injured, authorities said.

The accident occurred around 5 pm (2100 GMT) near Washington's border with the state of Maryland, and there were "preliminary reports of injuries," according to a statement from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority.

Local broadcaster NBC 4 reported at least 55 injured.

A Washington Fire Department spokesman Allan Etter told NBC 4 that at least one person was killed, and there were other "severe" injuries. Rescue workers were engaged in "mass-casualty operations," he said. (dpa)