68 dead as high-speed trains collide near Toledo in Spain

At least 68 people are dead after a high-speed train hit a stationary service near Toledo, with Spain's transport minister blaming a signalling failure and a wrongly cleared restart.

At least 68 people were killed when a high-speed train ran into the back of a stationary train near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday morning, in Spain's deadliest rail disaster in more than a decade.

Spain's transport minister said a signalling computer failure had halted six trains, and a Renfe service was then wrongly cleared to restart despite a red signal, travelling on to hit the stopped Iryo train ahead of it.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning and promised a full investigation, as rescue teams worked through the wreckage and high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended.