68 killed in train collision in Spain

At least 68 were killed while dozens of people have been injured in a train accident that occurred on Wednesday in the Spanish province of Toledo, south of Madrid, reported Xinhua, quoting local authorities.

Emergency services continue to search for bodies of the victims with the help of trained dogs, and "even more" victims could still be found among the passengers of the two trains involved in the accident, said Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha which includes the province of Toledo.

According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is traveling to the site of the train accident in the province of Toledo to learn firsthand the details of what occurred and the unfolding situation.

The accident occurred at around 8:54 a.m. local time (0754 GMT) near Urda station in the province of Toledo, about 120 km south of Madrid.

The collision involved a train operated by state-owned railway company Renfe and another operated by private company Iryo.

Preliminary reports suggested that the Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo train, which had reportedly been stationary on the tracks. Two carriages derailed and plunged down an embankment.

Spanish railway infrastructure operator Adif confirmed that the accident prompted the suspension of rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.

Political parties across Spain cancelled scheduled activities on Wednesday, while officials expressed their condolences and support for those affected.

"Shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media, adding that emergency services are on the ground to assist those impacted.

The collision came just nine months after another major railway accident near Adamuz, in the southern province of Cordoba, which killed 46 people.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced three days of national mourning following a collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain that killed at least 68 people, pledging a thorough investigation into the cause of the tragedy.

Speaking at an emergency command post near the accident site in Toledo province, Sanchez said the government would investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and take firm action if negligence or failures in railway safety systems were found.

"We will get to the bottom of this," Sanchez said, stressing that any negligence would be uncovered and any failures in safety systems would be addressed decisively.

Sanchez said that "all of Spain is in mourning" following the tragedy, emphasizing that the government's immediate priority was to assist the victims and their families, rescue as many survivors as possible, and provide medical and psychological support to those affected.

Sanchez also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, saying the entire country was in mourning.