High-Speed Train Collision in Central Spain Kills at Least 10
A collision between two trains heading from Madrid to Seville has halted rail service in the Toledo province, with officials expecting the death toll to increase as recovery efforts continue.
By Nadia Khalil ·
Ten people were confirmed dead after a high-speed train struck the rear of a stopped train in central Spain on Wednesday morning. Authorities in the Castilla La Mancha region reported the incident occurred in the province of Toledo, where the impact derailed two cars from the leading vehicle. Esther Padilla, the regional spokeswoman, stated that the confirmed death count is expected to rise as rescue teams work through the wreckage.
The crash involved a state-owned RENFE train and a private IRYO train, both traveling in the same direction from Madrid toward Seville. Padilla told state broadcaster TVE that the moving train hit the tail of the stationary one, causing the derailment. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. In total, 544 passengers were aboard the two trains, with 397 riding on the RENFE service and 147 on the IRYO service.
The collision immediately suspended rail operations between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia. Local authorities in the nearby town of Urda mobilized resources to handle the influx of injured travelers. Mayor Manuel Galán said civil protection officials requested that a local sports pavilion be prepared to treat passengers. Regional President Emiliano García-Page announced on social media that he was traveling to the crash site to oversee the response.
This incident follows a deadly crash in January where 45 people died in southern Spain when a train jumped the tracks and collided with an oncoming service. That January accident was the deadliest in Spain since 2013, a year when a crash claimed 80 lives. Both the January event and this Wednesday's collision involved RENFE and IRYO trains, a connection that has drawn attention to the safety of Spain's high-speed network.
Rail service remains halted across the affected corridor while investigators examine the scene. The number of confirmed fatalities stands at 10, though officials maintain that the figure will likely increase. Recovery efforts are ongoing in the Toledo province as emergency services continue to clear the area.
Source: NPR
