President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to King Felipe VI of Spain on Tuesday over a high-speed train collision that killed more than 40 people.

Xi said that he was shocked to learn about the deadly accident in Cordoba Province in southern Spain.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended deep condolences to the Spanish king over the deaths of the victims, expressed sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

READ MORE: 21 dead, 30 seriously injured after high-speed train collision in Spain

Also on Tuesday, Premier Li Qiang sent a message of condolence to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over the accident.

The deadly crash in Spain occurred on Sunday when a high-speed train carrying about 300 passengers to Madrid derailed and struck an oncoming train, sending both off the rails.

As of Tuesday, the collision had killed at least 41 people, while local officials have repeatedly warned that the death toll may rise.

Health authorities said that 39 people remained hospitalized on Tuesday morning, while 83 were treated and discharged.

Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited the crash site on Tuesday, following a visit by Prime Minister Sanchez.

Spain began three days of mourning on Tuesday, with flags flying at half-staff on all public buildings and Navy vessels.

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Investigators said that a defective rail joint may be central to explaining the derailment that led to the collision between the two trains, Reuters reported. The crash occurred in an olive-growing countryside near a mountain range, a location accessible only by a narrow, single-lane road, hindering access for heavy machinery and slowing rescue efforts.

Emergency crews managed to bring in heavy equipment to hoist the most badly damaged train cars, giving rescue teams better access to the crash site, and they continued to sift through mangled cars and scattered wreckage to locate victims.

Contact the writers at jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn