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The death toll from a high-speed train collision in central Spain rose to at least 68 on October 28, 2026, with regional authorities warning that the number could increase as rescue teams worked through the wreckage. Castilla-La Mancha government officials confirmed that around 80 people were injured, including 50 in serious condition and 15 listed as critical. The incident has been described as the deadliest rail disaster in the country since 2013.
The crash occurred shortly after 09:00 local time between Urda and Los Yébenes in Toledo province, about 130 kilometres south of Madrid, when a Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid to Seville rear-ended a stationary Iryo train on the high-speed line. More than 540 passengers were aboard the two services combined, with the Renfe train carrying 397 people and the Iryo train transporting 146 adults along with one infant, according to the Castilla-La Mancha regional government. At least two carriages derailed and plunged down an embankment, the authorities added.
Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente attributed the collision to an “inexplicable” decision by the rail control centre after a failure in the LZB signalling system triggered an automatic stop for multiple trains in the area. Puente explained that the communications issue left more than 60 kilometres of track without coverage, yet one train was permitted to proceed, as he detailed in briefings to media outlets. The operator Iryo stated that its train was struck from behind by the Renfe service.
Footage from the scene broadcast by the BBC showed chaotic scenes with heavily damaged carriages, emergency responders searching the debris and survivors being helped from the twisted wreckage. Witnesses told CNN that passengers were hurled from their seats and piled on top of one another during the violent impact. Local workers who heard the crash rushed to the site with first aid kits, discovering bodies and assisting the injured who had crawled out through windows into nearby fields, The New York Times reported.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site and said the whole country was grieving while announcing that major political parties had suspended general election campaigning. Sánchez pledged a full investigation into the causes and vowed to address any systemic failures with the utmost firmness. High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended in both directions, creating long queues and widespread disruption at stations, according to Adif, Spain’s rail infrastructure manager.
Survivors described the moment of collision as devastating, with one passenger telling El País newspaper that people were thrown through the air after a sudden violent acceleration. Journalist Roberto Gómez, who was aboard one of the trains, told Onda Cero radio that the impact was terrible, the carriage was completely destroyed with suitcases scattered everywhere and he had helped others with severe injuries. The crash marks the second fatal incident on the Madrid to Andalusia high-speed line this year, following an earlier collision in January, as noted in updates from The Guardian.
