Twenty killed as high-speed train derails in Southern Spain

Authorities estimate that more than 20 people were killed in a high-speed train crash in southern Spain, a senior official said.

Antonio Sanz, regional health minister for the Andalusia province where the crash happened, said officials fear that the death toll may rise beyond that number.

Rescue operations are ongoing, he said, adding that 73 injured passengers have been taken to six different hospitals.

The crash happened when a high-speed train derailed Sunday,



jumping onto the track in the opposite direction and hitting an oncoming train, leaving at least 10 people dead, authorities said.

The evening train between Malaga and Madrid went off the rails and slammed into a train coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to the Spanish rail operator Adif.

Two Guardia Civil officials confirmed the death toll to The Associated Press by phone and text message. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with police rules.