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Dozens die as Spanish train derails in Galicia Dozens die as Spanish train derails in Galicia
(about 3 hours later)
A train has derailed in north-western Spain, killing at least 60 people and injuring many more, officials in the Galicia region have said. A train has derailed in north-western Spain, killing at least 60 people and injuring more than 100, officials in the Galicia region have said.
All 13 carriages of the train, which was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol, came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela. All eight carriages of the train, which was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol, came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela.
Images from the scene showed bodies strewn near ruined carriages, and emergency crews searching the wreckage. Rescue workers continued to search for survivors in the train wreckage through the night.
Analysts say it is the worst rail accident in Spain in four decades.Analysts say it is the worst rail accident in Spain in four decades.
Leader of the regional government Alberto Nunez Feijoo confirmed the death toll but told radio Cadena Ser that it was too early to say what caused the accident. Government officials said they believed the crash was an accident, but that no statement would be made regarding the cause without a proper investigation.
"There are bodies lying on the railway track. It's a Dante-esque scene," he said in comments translated by the AFP news agency. "We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack," one unnamed official said.
The government said it was working on the hypothesis the derailment was an accident. 'A Dante-esque scene'
"We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack," an official said. Images from the site showed bodies covered with blankets next to the tracks, as emergency crews searched the wreckage.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy convened an emergency ministerial meeting late on Wednesday and is due to visit the scene of the accident on Thursday. He was born in Santiago de Compostela. Leader of the regional government Alberto Nunez Feijoo described it as "a Dante-esque scene", in comments to Radio Cadena Ser.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, convened an emergency ministerial meeting late on Wednesday. He is due to visit the scene of the accident on Thursday.
"I want to express my affection and solidarity with the victims of the terrible train accident in Santiago," Mr Rajoy said on his Twitter account."I want to express my affection and solidarity with the victims of the terrible train accident in Santiago," Mr Rajoy said on his Twitter account.
Local authorities have issued an appeal for residents to donate blood to hospitals in the area. More than 140 passengers were receiving treatment for a range of light to more serious injuries, a health official told reporters on Thursday morning.
About 320 members of Spain's national police force have been deployed in response to the train derailment, officials say. In the wake of the incident, residents flocked to hospitals in the area to donate blood in response to an appeal.
Meanwhile, 320 Spanish police officers were deployed to help out the rescue operation.
One witness, Ricardo Montesco, described how the train carriages "piled on top of one another" after the train hit a curve, speaking to Spanish Cadena Ser radio station.One witness, Ricardo Montesco, described how the train carriages "piled on top of one another" after the train hit a curve, speaking to Spanish Cadena Ser radio station.
"A lot of people were squashed on the bottom. We tried to squeeze out of the bottom of the wagons to get out and we realised the train was burning...I was in the second wagon and there was fire. I saw corpses," he added."A lot of people were squashed on the bottom. We tried to squeeze out of the bottom of the wagons to get out and we realised the train was burning...I was in the second wagon and there was fire. I saw corpses," he added.
The BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid says Thursday is a local holiday in the region, and many people would have been preparing to celebrate. Several eyewitnesses described the train travelling very fast before it derailed.
Thousands of Christian pilgrims were expected to flock to Santiago de Compostela to attend the city's main festival in honour of Saint James. Spanish El Pais newspaper cited sources close to the investigation as saying the train was travelling at over twice the speed limit on a sharp curve.
The derailment happened on the eve of Santiago de Compostela's main festival where thousands of Christian pilgrims were expected to flock to the city in honour of Saint James.
However, the city's tourism board said all festivities planned for Thursday have been cancelled.However, the city's tourism board said all festivities planned for Thursday have been cancelled.
Local journalist Francisco Camino said the region was in shock.Local journalist Francisco Camino said the region was in shock.
"This is a tiny place and nothing happens here, nothing important or tragic," he told the BBC."This is a tiny place and nothing happens here, nothing important or tragic," he told the BBC.
"We were preparing for the celebrations and now this could turn out to be the worst train crash in many years.""We were preparing for the celebrations and now this could turn out to be the worst train crash in many years."
Railway firm Renfe said the train was carrying at least 218 passengers, and came off the tracks on a bend about 3km (two miles) from Santiago de Compostela station.Railway firm Renfe said the train was carrying at least 218 passengers, and came off the tracks on a bend about 3km (two miles) from Santiago de Compostela station.
It was on the express route between Madrid and the ship-building city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.It was on the express route between Madrid and the ship-building city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.
The company says it and the track operating company Adif are collaborating with a judge appointed to investigate the accident.The company says it and the track operating company Adif are collaborating with a judge appointed to investigate the accident.
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