At least 68 people have died after two trains collided in Spain, according to a provisional toll reported by Le Monde.fr on Wednesday. The French newspaper says the Spanish authorities have declared three days of national mourning following the crash.
Le Monde.fr reported the updated figure in live coverage on Wednesday afternoon, describing the death toll as provisional and subject to change. No further details on the circumstances of the collision, the location or the number of injured passengers were included in the reporting available.
Other French outlets carried the same provisional count. Libération also reported that the toll had risen to 68 and that a three-day period of national mourning had been announced. 20 Minutes published an explainer on what is known about the rail disaster.
The crash has also prompted scrutiny of Spain's high-speed rail network. Les Echos reported that it is the second serious rail accident on the same line within a year, and Le Figaro described it as the second major incident in less than twelve months on the Spanish high-speed network. Neither outlet's full analysis was available in the material reviewed here.
Spanish officials have not released a final death toll, and the provisional figure may still change as rescue and recovery work continues. Watch for official updates from Spanish authorities on the confirmed casualty count and on the cause of the collision.