Two Trains Strike Each Other on Madrid-Seville Line, Killing 10

Two high-speed trains collided Wednesday morning on the line between Madrid and Seville in Toledo province, killing at least 10 people, according to Castilla-La Mancha regional government spokesperson Esther Padilla. "The information we are receiving is not good at all. There are at least 10 dead and it is possible that the number will increase," Padilla told local media.

Spain's state rail infrastructure authority, Adif, said one train struck the rear of another and suspended service on the Madrid to Andalucía route. State broadcaster TVE reported that the impact pushed two carriages off the track. Footage from regional broadcaster Castilla La Mancha Television showed a derailed train with one carriage still standing on an elevated section of track, with twisted metal, broken panels and wreckage scattered across the embankment below.

Government sources told El País the incident could prove worse than the Adamuz rail disaster in January, which killed 46 people.

Emergency services asked Manuel Galán, mayor of Urda near the city of Toledo, to prepare a sports hall to accommodate the injured. Spain's main political parties suspended their planned activities for the day as they prepare for a general election next month.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a post on X that he remained in constant contact with the transport minister and the president of Castilla-La Mancha. He said emergency services were working on the ground to help those affected and offered "love, solidarity and support to all the victims and their families." Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition People's party, wrote on X that he was "very concerned about the information we are getting about a new rail accident" and added that "the priority now is to attend to the victims and support their families."

The death toll of 10 stands as of Wednesday, and officials said the count could rise.