At least 68 people have been killed and nearly 80 injured after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain, triggering the suspension of rail services between Madrid and the southern Andalusia region.
The crash occurred shortly before 9am on Wednesday, 28 October, near the towns of Mora and Orgaz in Toledo province, about 118km south of Madrid by rail.
According to Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente, an Iryo express train carrying 147 people had stopped at a red signal after a computer communications failure automatically halted rail traffic.
Minutes later, a Renfe high-speed train carrying 397 passengers reportedly struck the stationary Iryo train from behind.
Puente said the collision happened after an erroneous decision was made to restart the Renfe train despite the red signal, violating established safety procedures.
Authorities have launched efforts to establish exactly how the incident unfolded and why the train was allowed to move.
Spain’s Deadliest Rail Disaster Since 2013
The collision is Spain’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013, when 80 people died and 145 were injured after a high-speed train derailed near Santiago de Compostela in the country’s northwest.
It is also the second fatal collision involving high-speed trains on the same line within nine months. A separate accident on 18 January this year near Adamuz, in Córdoba province, killed 46 people.
The latest disaster has prompted the suspension of high-speed rail services connecting Madrid with Andalusia, disrupting travel across the country.
Rescue teams were deployed to the crash site, where several carriages derailed and some plunged down an embankment.
Spanish Government Vows To Investigate
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, saying the entire country was mourning.
He stressed that determining the cause of the tragedy was a priority.
“If there has been any negligence, it will come to light,” Sánchez said.
Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, confirmed that the Iryo train had 147 people on board, including a baby, while 397 passengers were travelling on the Renfe service.
Investigators are expected to examine the signalling system, communications failure and decision-making surrounding the restart of the Renfe train as they work to establish responsibility for the collision.
