WorldPosted at: Oct 28 2026 9:13PM


Death toll from Spain's high-speed train crash rises to 68

Urda, Oct 28 (UNI) The death toll in a high-speed train collision near Urda, south of Madrid, has risen to at least 68, according to regional government sources cited by Spain's Efe news agency, as emergency crews continue searching for survivors and investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved in the collision in Toledo province, around 140km south of Madrid. Officials in Castilla-La Mancha said 147 passengers were aboard a train operated by private company Iryo, while 397 were travelling on a Renfe service.
The collision sent at least two carriages down an embankment. Authorities have yet to confirm the full sequence of events, although Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer failure had initially halted six moving trains, including the two involved in the crash.
According to Puente, the control centre took over when the system failed and subsequently authorised the trains to resume moving without speed restrictions.
That decision was made under "inexplicable circumstances", he said, resulting in the Renfe train crashing into the Iryo train, which was stationary further along the tracks.
The minister described the accident as "truly unbelievable". Authorities have not yet established a definitive cause.
One passenger told local media that they felt a heavy impact about 40 minutes into the journey. Spanish media had earlier reported that human error linked to signalling was among the possible explanations for the crash.
Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, police and Civil Guard officers, remain at the scene, supported by several helicopters. Nearly 100 personnel from Spain's Military Emergency Unit were deployed to assist with search and rescue operations.
The unit said it was providing search teams, canine units, equipment to free trapped passengers, and medical and psychological support.
The scale of the disaster has prompted comparisons with the Adamuz rail accident last January, in which 46 people died. Some sources told Spanish media that the latest crash could prove even deadlier.
State-owned rail operator Renfe has established a helpline for relatives of passengers involved in the collision. The company expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished those injured a speedy recovery, saying its priority was to assess the damage and support those affected and the emergency services.
Train services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia remain suspended. Assistance points have been established at Sevilla Santa Justa, Madrid-Puerta de Atocha Almudena Grandes and Córdoba-Julio Anguita stations, where passengers have been seeking information.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was "upset" by the news and offered support to the injured and their families. Sánchez and members of his government cancelled their public engagements to monitor the situation, while Parliament called off its events for the day.
Most political parties also cancelled campaign events ahead of Spain's general election on 29 November. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and most other candidates suspended their scheduled appearances.
The far-right Vox party was an exception. Its leader, Santiago Abascal, said the party would not take part in what he described as attempts to "use mourning to silence criticism" of Spain's rail infrastructure.
Spain's royal family said they were "moved and concerned" by the accident, expressing condolences to the victims' relatives and support for emergency crews working at the scene.
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Tags: #Death toll from Spain's high-speed train crash rises to 68
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