Two of those confirmed injured were a 50-year-old woman and a four-year-old girl.

WTX EU News 18 bodies have been removed from the wreckage while emergency services remain on-site with Venice officials announcing 15 survivors so far.

The mayor of Venice described the crash as a ‘terrible tragedy’ as at least 21 passengers died and another 40 were hurt.

What happened in Venice? The latest from EU News

The President of the Venice region has announced that 21 people have died after a coach came off the road near the city.

Earlier mayor of Venice said at least 20 people had died while a further 40 are believed to have been injured in the accident.

The coach careered off a road in the district of Mestre, according to Italian media reports, and landed close to a railway line before erupting in flames.

The cause of the incident is not yet known.

Three children including a baby were among the dead – updated 09:15 am CET

Three children including a baby were among the dead, emergency services said. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that the toll could rise.

Fifteen people are known to have been injured, five of them seriously. Venice officials said they included Ukrainians, Austrians, Spaniards, and other foreign tourists.

Among the injured were two 16-year-olds and two younger children, the local governor said.

The vehicle is thought to have been a hybrid, powered by electric batteries and methane gas. Italian reports suggest the gas tank exploded on impact and fire brigade commander Mauro Longo told Il Gazzettino website that the batteries caught fire and made the task of clearing the bus a complex operation.