The collision near Urda in central Spain sent train carriages off the tracks and disrupted services between Madrid and southern Spain, as emergency teams continued rescue operations and authorities investigated the cause.
At least 30 people have died after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain, with the death toll expected to rise as emergency crews continue rescue and recovery operations.
The crash occurred on Wednesday morning near Urda, in Toledo province, on the high-speed railway connecting Madrid to the southern Andalusia region.
The collision involved a Renfe train and another operated by private rail company Iryo. Spanish media reports indicate that one train struck the rear of the other, causing two carriages to derail and plunge down an embankment.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government initially reported 10 deaths before the toll rose to at least 30, according to Reuters and other media reports.
Sky News subsequently reported that local authorities had put the number at 39, although the overall casualty figures remained provisional. <Cite refs={re than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains, according to Spanish media reports.
Emergency personnel, including firefighters, Civil Guard officers, medical teams and Civil Protection workers, were deployed to the scene to assist survivors and transport the injured to hospitals.
The exact cause of the collision had not been officially established. Initial reports cited by Spanish media suggest one train may have been stationary when it was struck from behind, but investigators are yet to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
Rail infrastructure operator Adif announced the suspension of services on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line following the collision. The disruption affected travel between Madrid, Ciudad Real and destinations in southern Spain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was shocked by the accident and was in constant contact with the transport minister and the president of Castilla-La Mancha.
He said emergency services were working at the scene to assist those affected and ensure their safety, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.
Spain’s royal family also expressed concern over the crash, extending condolences to the families of those killed and praising emergency teams working to help those affected.
The prime minister and other political leaders cancelled their scheduled public engagements following the accident, including campaign activities ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.
The collision comes nine months after another fatal accident involving high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Córdoba province, which killed 46 people and prompted renewed debate about railway safety and infrastructure maintenance in Spain.
Rescue operations and investigations into Wednesday’s collision were continuing, with authorities yet to establish the final death toll and the cause of the crash.