The accident happened on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela festival as holiday-makers made their way into the city for the bank holiday weekend.

Authorities have said it is unclear why the accident happened, but they have ruled out an act of terrorism.

A driver is reported to have said that the train was going at up to 190 kilometres per hour, twice the allowed speed limit on that particular curve of track.

Galician government official Alberto Nunez Feijoo, described the scene as, "shocking, it's Dante-esque".

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in the city of Santiago de Compostela, will visit the wreckage site later today.