SPAIN DECLARES 3 DAYS OF MOURNING IN WAKE OF DEADLY HIGH-SPEED TRAIN CRASH

ISTANBUL, Jan 19 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Spain’s premier declared three days of mourning on Monday after at least 39 people were killed in a high-speed train collision in the southern Cordoba province, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

Over 100 others were also injured after two high-speed trains collided near the town of Adamuz, authorities said on Monday.

Pedro Sanchez announced that three days of mourning will start as of tonight and pledged that authorities will get to the bottom of the incident, according to broadcaster RTVE.

"We are going to find out the truth, we are going to learn the answer, and when we know it, we will make it known to the public with absolute transparency and clarity," he said.

The Railway Accident Investigation Committee has reportedly launched a probe.

The accident occurred around 7.40 pm local time on Sunday (1840GMT) when a train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, and encroached onto an adjacent track.

This caused a second train heading south from Madrid to Huelva to also derail.

Regional authorities said two carriages of the Alvia train plunged down a four-metre embankment, complicating rescue efforts, El Pais reported.

The Interior Ministry said five of the injured remain in critical condition, while 24 others, including four minors, were seriously hurt. More than 120 people sustained light to moderate injuries.

Spain suffered one of its deadliest rail disasters in 2013, when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Galicia derailed, killing 79 people and injuring 179 others.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU