Spain
Rescue workers pull victims from the wreckage in Spain. Reuters

[Update: 1: 15 a.m. EDT] At least 40 people have been confirmed dead, the Wall Street Journal wrote, and more than 140 people were injured in what is being called Spain's worst rail accident in decades.

At least 35 people are dead and scores injured after a high-speed train in Northwestern Spain derailed on Wednesday evening. According to Spain’s state television, via the Wall Street Journal, the accident might have been caused by excessive speed as the train approached a station in Santiago, the capital of the region of Galicia.

Spain is known for its high-speed trains, but this is the first recorded accident involving one of them in the country. The train had departed from Madrid and was going to El Ferrol, located about 60 miles north of Compostela, the news site said.

"Everything right now points to an accident," a spokesman for Spain's interior ministry said, easing fears that the accident might have been caused by a terrorist attack. The train had between 200 and 300 travelers aboad when it derailed at about 8:30 p.m. local time.

Images of the accident showed several bodies covered with blankets. It's still unknown how many people were killed or injured in the devastating crash. Train cars turned on their side were still smoking from the accident when help arrived at the scene.

Photographer Xabier Martine told the Associated Press that two injured train passengers told him they felt strong vibrations before the train, which is run by Alvia, derailed, according to CBS News.

Officials at the Interior Ministry and the Adif rail infrastructure authority have yet to comment and phone calls were not immediately answered.

This is a developing story.