Death toll rises on Spain's southern rail corridor after double-collision

Two high-speed trains collided near the town of Urda in Spain, killing at least 30 people and triggering a full suspension of service on the Madrid-Seville line.

The crash happened at 8:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday at kilometer marker 118 of the Southern Corridor. The accident involved a Renfe train and an Iryo train, both heading from Madrid to Seville. Authorities determined that the Renfe train likely struck the Iryo train from behind. The impact sent two coaches of the Iryo train off the tracks. The collision site sits near the towns of Mora, Orgaz, and Urda in the Castilla-La Mancha region.

The Iryo service, identified as train 6076, was carrying 146 passengers, including one infant. The Renfe train had 397 passengers on board. A spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha region told ABC News that the death toll is expected to climb as rescue efforts continue. Health Minister Monica Garcia stated that the government is coordinating with regional authorities to manage the response. “We are mobilizing all the resources at our disposal and coordinating with all the relevant institutions,” Garcia said. She added that her office is working directly with the regional government to provide necessary support to emergency personnel.

Iryo confirmed the involvement of its service 6076 in a statement. The company said it activated emergency protocols immediately. All Iryo trains departing from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha for the Southern Corridor have been canceled. The company has not provided an estimated time for when service will resume.