Dozens die as Spanish train derails in Galicia

All 13 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.

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.

"There are bodies lying on the railway track. It's a Dante-esque scene," he said in comments translated by the AFP news agency.

The government said it was working on the hypothesis the derailment was an accident.

"We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack," an official said.

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.

"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 .

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