At least two people have been killed and dozens injured after two subway trains collided in Washington DC, officials said.

Emergency workers were trying to free some of those trapped on trains after they collided at about 5pm local time on Monday in the north of the US capital.

Alan Etter, a Washington DC fire department spokesman, described the crash as a "mass casualty event".

US television showed the front of one train lying on top of the other on open-air track.

Witnesses said fire department vehicles and ambulances were also at the scene, while television pictures showed rescue officials moving injured people off the tracks.

"We are working to first get everyone outside of the train and everyone who needs medical attention will get (it)," said John Catoe, the general manager of the Washington DC subway system.

Catoe said that up to 70 people "walked off" the trains, but had no immediate estimate of the number of injured.

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