Train collision in Spain kills at least 64

Spanish authorities confirmed that at least 64 people died on Wednesday morning when a high-speed train collided with the rear of another train in the province of Toledo. The central government's office for Castilla La Mancha verified the rising death toll as rescue teams continued operations in the wreckage. Regional president Emiliano García-Page stated that at least 80 people sustained injuries in the accident.

The crash involved two trains traveling in the same direction from Madrid to Seville. One train, operated by the state-owned company RENFE, struck the back of an IRYO train that had stopped on the line. Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the Castilla La Mancha region, explained that the impact knocked two cars off the track. Rail service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia was suspended immediately following the collision.

Passenger Ignacio Relaño, who was aboard the RENFE train, described the sequence of events to state broadcaster TVE. He reported that the train slowed abruptly before starting again and then impacting the other vehicle. The car leaned to one side, causing luggage and phones to fly around the interior. He noted that the impact was severe and the vehicle shook violently.

Health Minister Mónica García said emergency workers focused on extracting survivors and bodies from the two most damaged cars. She described the event as a high-speed impact that resulted in a tragedy. Injured passengers were transported to various hospitals in the area. The accident occurred on a flat stretch of track surrounded by olive fields between the towns of Urda and Los Yébenes, leaving one car shredded and scattering debris down a gravel slope.

The RENFE train carried 397 passengers, while the IRYO train had 147 passengers on board. García-Page provided a breakdown of the fatalities, stating that 24 people died in the RENFE train and six in the IRYO train. Spanish media reported that the RENFE train rammed the IRYO train. The IRYO company, which is Italian-owned, stated that it activated security protocols and is working closely with authorities.

Mayor Manuel Galán of Urda said civil protection authorities asked his town hall to prepare a local sports pavilion for injured passengers. A military emergency brigade was deployed to assist firefighters, police, and emergency services. Ambulances and medical helicopters transported patients to hospitals, while unscathed survivors were moved by bus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his schedule to focus on the incident. He wrote on X that he was dismayed by the accident and that emergency services were attending to affected passengers. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia issued a statement expressing their sadness and concern for the families of those who lost their lives. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Europe mourns with the victims.

Spain's soccer federation postponed all 24 Copa del Rey games scheduled for Wednesday. This is the second major train accident in Spain this year, following a January crash that killed 46 people. A spokesperson for the train workers' union, Joan Rodríguez, told TVE that increased traffic from privatization has strained the infrastructure. He noted that the liberalization of high-speed passenger rail service may not have been matched by necessary line upkeep.