At least 16 people were killed and more than 118 injured in the worst-ever accident on the Moscow subway.

Reports say there was chaos and panic on the packed commuter train after it stopped abruptly due to a power surge which set off an emergency alarm and braking system.

Three carriages of the Metro train came off the rails in a tunnel between the Molodezhnaya and Slavyansky Bulvar stations after the technical glitch.

One report said 108 were taken to hospital with a third of them in a serious condition. Among the dead was driver Sergey Osipov.

Up to five were still trapped underground as a massive rescue operation was mounted.

Some 300 people were led off the train in the west of the capital.

Some were taken straight into intensive care, some had to go into operation theatres.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin was at the scene in charge of the rescue.

Some 60 ambulances were ferrying the wounded away from the stricken train.

The Metro was opened by Stalin in 1935.

'This is the most serious man-made disaster in the Moscow underground in its entire history,' said infrastructure analyst Alexei Khazbiyev.

'It is the most serious accident apart from terrorist attacks.'

Vladimir Putin's spokesman said: 'The president has been informed. The Moscow authorities informed him about the incident and the measures that are being taken.'

A probe was launched into the cause of the derailment.

-Culled From Daily Mail