The underground train accelerated, shuddered and flipped off the tracks yesterday.

A further 47 people were hurt in what has been described as one of Spain's worst rail accidents.

Regional authorities and one witness said the train was going too fast and one of its wheels broke into pieces, derailing the first car, which overturned.

Rescue workers dragged bloodied, sooty survivors from the tunnel. Anguished relatives waited outside the local morgue.

The accident brought back memories of the 2004 terrorist attack on Madrid commuter trains that killed 191 people.

All but eight of the victims of the Valencia crash have been identified.

The driver was among those killed.

British consular officials were at the scene this morning, however, it is not yet known whether anyone from the UK was involved in the accident.

The death toll could yet rise further as more bodies are expected to be discovered.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero cut short a visit to India.