Two Carriages Drop Off Tracks as 46 Die in Spain Rail Crash
Emergency services in Toledo province are treating survivors after an AVE and an Iryo train collided Wednesday morning, killing at least 46 people.
By Rebecca Foster ·
At least 46 people died in central Spain on Wednesday after two high-speed trains collided. Authorities in the Toledo province confirmed the toll shortly after 9 a.m. local time. They warned the number could rise as rescue teams continue to work at the scene.
The crash occurred between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda. TVE reported that the AVE and Iryo services were traveling in the same direction. One train struck the rear of the other, sending two carriages off the tracks. Sources from the 112 emergency services said those carriages fell down an embankment. Rail infrastructure operator ADIF verified the incident took place on the morning of October 28. Reports indicated the trains were running between Seville and Madrid.
Manuel Galans, the mayor of Urda, told TVE that passengers sustained injuries. Civil protection officials asked the local town hall to prepare a sports pavilion to house affected passengers. Emergency medical teams arrived on site to begin treatment. Antonio Sanz, the Andalusian minister for health and emergencies, confirmed that mobile intensive care units and a logistics vehicle from the SAS were dispatched to the area. He made the announcement on X.
In Madrid, officials are setting up a support center at Atocha station. Deputy Mayor Inmaculada Sanz stated that SAMUR personnel are en route to the station. They will establish a room for relatives of the victims and injured passengers. She noted that a similar setup was used after the Adamuz train accident in January. That previous incident resulted in 45 deaths when a train derailed and hit an oncoming service. It is not yet determined if the same first-floor location will be used this time.
Renfe suspended all services between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia following the collision. The Spanish government canceled its official schedule for Wednesday in response to the tragedy. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted a message on X describing his deep sadness over the event in Urda. He expressed solidarity with the victims and their families while noting that emergency services are working to ensure safety.
The collision marks the second major rail disaster in Spain this year. The previous incident occurred in January in southern Spain. Emergency response efforts are currently focused on the embankment where the carriages fell.
