The death toll from a collision between two trains in Spain has risen to 64

At least 64 people were killed in a collision between two high-speed trains in Spain, on Wednesday, according to an updated toll announced by the President of the Castilla-La Manza region, Emiliano Garcia Pag.

"It's a big deal..." he told reporters.

A previous toll issued by the regional authorities reported that 31 people were killed in the collision.

The mayor of Orda, Manuel Galan, told Spanish state television (TVE) that "two trains collided, and there are injured people."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is seeking to win a new term in the elections scheduled for next month, expressed his "shock" at the collision.

He said on the X platform: “I am shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo,” south of Madrid, expressing “my love, solidarity and support for all the victims and their families.”

A Spanish emergency services spokesman told Agence France-Presse that the two trains collided shortly before nine in the morning (08:00 GMT).

He said that "all resources are currently being mobilized," including "several fire brigades, three helicopters, and two mobile intensive care units."

The railway infrastructure management company (Adif) confirmed the collision, noting in a post on social media that train traffic on the high-speed railway linking Madrid to the south of the country had been suspended.

In January, two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, killing 46 people.

Miguel, a passenger who was traveling with several of his colleagues in the back car of one of the two trains, described to Spanish Radio Cuba the moment the accident occurred.

He said, "We heard a huge bang, a really huge crashing sound that lasted ten seconds, as if the train was about to derail. Through the right window we were able to see a crashed train, and I imagine it was the other train."

Sebastian Herrero, 46, from Seville, who was traveling on the train that was hit by the second train, said that shortly after the train stopped, he felt a “terrible shock” and hit the seats in front of him.

“After we fell, there were many people with broken noses and broken arms...and we started seeing smoke everywhere.”

He says a plainclothes police officer arrived and began ordering everyone to evacuate.

Another passenger, 60-year-old Iñaki, told El Pais newspaper that he felt the train stop before a "strong collision" sent him rolling on the ground outside the carriage, and he saw wounded and victims.

Fernando Seco told El Espanyol newspaper that the collision was followed by bags flying across the carriage, but the worst happened after he left the train and saw a “horrific scene.”

"There were many wounded, a lot of blood, and many dead," he says.

In turn, the Spanish Football Federation announced on Wednesday the postponement of 24 matches in the first round of the King’s Cup competition “out of respect and solidarity” with the victims of the accident.