Two trains collide near Toledo, dozens killed

The accident occurred early Wednesday at the entrance to Urda station on the high-speed Madrid-Seville line. A Renfe train heading toward Seville struck an Iryo train that was stopped in the same section of track. The Renfe train was carrying 378 passengers, while the Iryo train had 174 people on board. Initial reports vary on the death toll, with some media reporting 30 dead while others put the figure at 68 or more fatalities. Between 80 and 150 people have been injured, with at least 15 in serious condition.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the accident resulted from human error. An Adif worker who was dealing with a fault in the main signalling system was responsible for failing to alert the Renfe train to the proximity of the Iryo train. Transport Minister Óscar Puente described an accident of this nature as "truly implausible" and noted that a decision was made "with a red light" to resume operations after the LZB safety system failed.

Adif immediately suspended traffic on the southern rail corridor and urged passengers not to go to stations. High-speed service was halted between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalucía. Renfe activated its emergency assistance plan for railway accident victims and their families, setting up an information hotline: 900 10 10 20. Authorities in Castilla-La Mancha activated the Territorial Emergency Plan.

King Felipe VI expressed his condolences for what he called a "terrible accident" and acknowledged the work of emergency teams. International leaders sent messages of sympathy, with countries including Colombia and Mexico activating channels to determine if their citizens were affected. The event also had an impact on sport, with 24 Copa del Rey matches scheduled to be postponed.

This is Spain's second major railway accident in less than a year, following the Adamuz disaster in Córdoba ten months earlier. Emergency teams continued rescue and search operations as authorities warned that the death toll could rise. Residents of Urda mobilised to bring food and water to those affected, while families of passengers visited hospitals searching for their loved ones.