Dozens dead and more than 100 injured is the toll from the collision of two high-speed trains in Spain. According to information broadcast by Sky News, at least 64 people have lost their lives in the accident that occurred on Wednesday morning (28/10/2026), between the towns of Los Yebenes and Urda, in the province of Toledo.
At the same time, Spanish media report that more than 179 people have been injured. More than 540 people were traveling on board the trains involved in the catastrophic rail crash.
According to an announcement by the Spanish railway infrastructure manager Adif, traffic on the Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line was suspended following the collision of the trains. The company provided no further details regarding the circumstances of the accident. The collision reportedly involved an AVE high-speed train, which had departed from Madrid bound for Seville, and an Iryo train.
Initial estimates indicate that one train struck the other from behind, causing two carriages of the second train to derail and tumble down an embankment. It is highlighted that the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, is traveling to the scene in order to, as stated in a briefing from the Spanish government, "support the work of the rescue teams and express his solidarity with those affected and their families. The priority is caring for the victims and ensuring maximum coordination among the authorities," demonstrating government emergency protocols.
The statement from the Iryo company
For its part, railway operator Iryo announced that one of its trains was struck from behind "for reasons that remain unknown." In a new statement, the company noted that service 6076 departed Madrid bound for Seville at 07:54 a.m., carrying 147 passengers, three crew members, one barista, and the train driver. "At 08:48 a.m., and for reasons that remain unknown, the train was struck from behind by a Renfe train set (Class 103 type) near Urda (in Toledo), at kilometer 118 of the route," Iryo stated. The company noted that it is "working closely" with Renfe, Spain's railway infrastructure manager (Adif), and the "competent authorities" to establish the causes of the collision. "At this moment, absolute priority for Iryo is the people affected, and the company's entire team is making every possible effort to manage the incident," it noted. It also confirmed that all its services departing from Madrid's Atocha station toward southern Spain's high-speed corridor have been canceled, with no estimate as to when traffic will be restored, signaling severe rail service disruption.
"Human error" the cause
Citing government sources, El País speaks of potential human error as the primary cause of the accident. Always according to El País, rescue services report that the AVE high-speed train collided into the carriages of the Iryo train, which had come to a halt at the Urda railway station. According to the same information, a technical problem in the safety system reportedly caused several trains to stop in the area. Subsequently, while a restart command was issued, the Iryo train remained stationary. Authorities are investigating whether an incorrect instruction was given by an operator at the Atocha control center allowing the Renfe train to proceed despite the presence of the stationary train on the track, placing traffic control protocols at the center of the ongoing investigation.
Harrowing testimony from pregnant passenger
A survivor of the disaster, who is pregnant, described the harrowing scenes that unfolded following the morning incident. "Through the window, I saw one of the carriages that had fallen and burned completely," Patricia told radio station COPE. "I see a lot of people out here. Honestly, the passengers in the carriage displayed remarkable calm given the circumstances and helped me get out," she stated, according to Reuters. "We are all here, trying to process what happened," underscoring the profound human toll of the railway disaster.
"It was a terrifying and indescribable situation; we hadn't even realized how high a speed our train had reached," one survivor, who was sitting in the rear carriage of the AVE, told Madrid newspaper El País, recalling the harrowing moments of the high-speed train collision.
Military units deployed in rescue operation
Nearly 100 personnel from the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) have been deployed to the crash site to reinforce initial response efforts. The country's military emergency division reported that it has mobilized "search and rescue capabilities, K9 search units, and specialized extrication equipment, as well as medical and psychological support teams." These military assets join a massive joint emergency response operation comprising police forces, firefighters, medical ambulance crews, and Civil Guard personnel working to extract survivors from the train crash site.
The Sanchez statement
The Prime Minister of Spain expressed his "solidarity and support to all victims" of the rail disaster. Specifically, in a post on social media, Pedro Sanchez declared he was "shocked by the serious rail accident in Toledo." "I am in constant contact with the Minister of Transport and the President of Castilla-La Mancha," he stated. "Emergency services are operating at the scene to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all involved authorities," demonstrating active government response efforts.
"Urgent" appeal for blood donations in Madrid
An "urgent" appeal for blood donations was issued by Madrid's regional blood donation coordinator. The appeal was made by the Blood Transfusion Center of the Region of Madrid, in anticipation of a potential "sudden increase in medical care needs." The center calls on citizens to proceed to their nearest blood donation point. Politicians expressed their support for the appeal, with the Minister of Health and the leader of the opposition sharing the relevant message to mobilize emergency medical supplies.
Spanish royal family "shocked and concerned"
The Spanish royal court stated it was "shocked and concerned" over the fatal accident. In a post on platform X, it stated: "We share the grief of the families and loved ones of the victims and send our support to the injured and all those affected." "We also express our support for the emergency response teams and everyone working at the scene, providing all possible assistance under these circumstances," reflecting the national impact of the rail disaster.
Railway company confirms involvement of its train
Iryo, the operator of one of the trains involved in the crash, announced that it activated "all emergency protocols" following the incident. "This morning, our train number 6076, operating the route from Madrid to Seville, was involved in an accident near Urda, at kilometer 118 of the route," the company stated. "Iryo has activated all emergency protocols and is working closely with competent authorities to manage the situation." All services departing from Madrid's Atocha railway station toward southern Spain's high-speed rail corridor have been canceled, Iryo stated. "At present, there is no estimate as to when services will be restored. We will continue to provide updates through our established communication channels," signaling severe rail service disruption.
Second fatal train crash in Spain in 2026
Today's incident constitutes the second fatal high-speed train accident in Spain during 2026. It is recalled that at least 45 people lost their lives and 170 were injured when two trains derailed in southern Spain on January 18. In that specific incident, the trains—operating routes to and from Madrid—collided in the Adamuz area while carrying hundreds of passengers. Specifically, an Iryo train traveling between Malaga and Madrid with approximately 300 passengers derailed. Following the derailment, the train ended up on the opposing track and collided with an oncoming train carrying about 200 passengers bound from Madrid to Huelva. The investigation into that incident revealed that a rail break had occurred prior to the collision, highlighting systemic rail safety concerns.
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