30 killed as two high-speed trains collide in Toledo
Officials in central Spain confirmed the deaths after a Renfe train struck an Iryo train that was stopped on the tracks.
By Javier Sanders ·
Thirty people died when two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday. The Castilla La Mancha regional government press office confirmed the death toll to NBC News. The incident occurred just after 9 a.m. local time in the Toledo province. It marks the second fatal rail disaster in Spain this year.
ADIF, the state agency that manages Spain's railway infrastructure, stated that the accident happened in the Toledo province. Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the regional government, told the state broadcaster TVE that both trains were traveling from Madrid toward Seville. One train was moving when it hit the rear of the other, which had stopped on the line. The impact pushed two cars of the stationary train off the tracks. Padilla said the cause of the collision was not yet known.
A total of 397 passengers were aboard the state-owned Renfe train. The private operator Iryo reported 147 passengers on its service. Miguel, a passenger on the rear car of one of the trains, described the moment of impact to COPE radio. He said the group heard a massive roar and a thud that lasted for ten seconds. Through the window on the right, he saw a wrecked train, which he believed was the other vehicle.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was deeply saddened by the event. He wrote on X that emergency services are working on site to assist those affected and ensure their safety. He added that his heartfelt sympathy and support go out to the victims and their families.
Manuel Galan, the mayor of the nearby municipality of Urda, told TVE that emergency services asked him to prepare a local sports hall. The facility is intended to accommodate the injured. Renfe established an emergency phone line to help the families of the victims. Iryo, an Italian-owned company, said in a statement that it activated its security protocols and is working closely with authorities.
This crash follows a collision on the same Madrid to Seville line in January. That incident involved the same two operators and left 45 people dead when a train jumped the track and hit an oncoming train. It was the deadliest rail accident in Spain since 2013. Spain operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe for trains moving faster than 155 mph, with more than 1,900 miles of track according to the European Union.
