Spain train collision near Toledo kills at least 30
A Renfe AVE train crashed into a stopped Iryo train near Toledo, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 80, Spanish officials say, warning the toll may rise.
Regional authorities in central Spain announced on Wednesday that at least 30 people had died and more than 80 were injured in a collision between two high-speed trains on the Madrid-Andalusia line, between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda in Toledo province. Emiliano García-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha region, said 24 of the victims were on board a Renfe AVE train and 6 on an Iryo train, warning that the toll "could still rise."
How did the crash happen?
According to available information, the AVE train had left Madrid's Atocha station at around 8 a.m. before crashing into the Iryo train, which was stopped on the same track, causing several carriages to derail, with some reportedly falling down an embankment according to some sources. The AVE was carrying 397 passengers and the Iryo 147, including a baby, for a total of around 544 passengers on both trains. Spanish media reported that former labour minister Fátima Báñez was among the passengers on the Iryo train, travelling to Seville, and had not yet been located at the time of publication.
Cause still unknown
The cause of the collision has not yet been established, with hypotheses ranging from human error to a failure in the line's automatic braking system, according to local authorities, who confirmed an investigation had been opened to determine responsibility. The regional president said the number of injured exceeds 80, including about 30 with minor injuries, 50 with moderate injuries, and a further number in serious condition.
Spain's response
King Felipe VI cut short his schedule in Valencia to return to Madrid after the accident, and the royal household issued a statement offering condolences to the victims' families. Madrid authorities made 922 beds available across three public hospitals for the injured and deployed buses for evacuations, while the Spanish Civil Guard opened assistance offices for families and began collecting DNA samples to help identify victims. Renfe and Iryo announced helplines for victims' relatives and called for blood donations, while train traffic on the entire Madrid-Andalusia line was suspended until further notice.