Train collision kills 64 in central Spain

Sixty-four people died Wednesday when a high-speed train operated by the private company Iryo collided with the rear of a stationary Renfe state railway train in a rural area of Toledo province. The impact caused several carriages to derail and overturn, leaving 80 passengers injured. Both units were traveling in the same direction before the crash.

The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha confirmed that the Renfe train carried 397 passengers while the Iryo train held 147. Regional President Emiliano García-Page announced the injury count as rescue teams continued searching through the wreckage. Local health authorities requested blood donations and opened a support hotline for families of the victims.

In the nearby town of Urda, Mayor Manuel Galán coordinated the preparation of a sports center to receive the affected passengers. Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the regional government, explained the mechanics of the accident to the public broadcaster TVE, confirming the sequence of events that led to the collision.

Miguel, a passenger in the last car, told the Spanish radio station COPE that he heard a deafening roar followed by a dull thud lasting about ten seconds. He described the sensation as if the train were about to derail. Looking out the right-side window, he saw the other train destroyed and assumed it was the other unit involved.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was deeply saddened by the event. On social media, he sent his sincere condolences and support to all victims and their families. The Royal House also issued a statement saying they shared the pain of the families and loved ones of those who died.

The accident occurred in a sparsely populated zone in the center of the country. The collision between the moving private train and the stopped state train resulted in the severe structural damage that defined the scale of the rescue effort. Authorities continue to assess the condition of the injured patients.

The total death toll rose to 64 as of Wednesday. The 80 injured patients are receiving care in local hospitals. The two operators involved in the crash are Iryo and Renfe, which are distinct companies operating on the same high-speed network in the region.