Spanish PM declares three days of national mourning after deadly train collision

MADRID -- 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.

The collision occurred on Wednesday morning in Toledo province, about 120 kilometers south of Madrid, when a Renfe high-speed train struck a stationary Iryo train from behind on the Madrid-Seville railway line.

According to Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, the death toll has risen to 68, while dozens of people have been injured. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.