A high-speed train collision south of Madrid on Wednesday has resulted in at least 64 deaths and dozens of injuries, with the toll expected to rise, regional authorities said. The accident occurred near the municipality of Urda, located about 130 kilometers south of the Spanish capital, on a main rail line connecting Madrid to southern Spain.
The collision involved a train operated by the state-run company Renfe and another run by the private operator Iryo. According to Iryo, its train was stationary when it was struck from behind by the Renfe service. The Iryo train was carrying 147 passengers and five staff members, including the driver, at the time of the incident. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos, with some carriages embedded into one another and others lying on their sides amid twisted metal at the bottom of an embankment.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with dozens of vehicles and helicopters conducting search and rescue operations. At least 80 people were reported injured, with more than 50 taken to hospitals, including several in critical condition. Regional leader Emiliano Garcia-Page cautioned that the number of casualties could rise as rescue teams had not yet accessed all train carriages.
The crash occurred around 9 a.m. on a straight section of track in clear weather, but the cause remains under investigation. Five personnel wearing white overalls were seen inspecting the tracks and collecting evidence. This incident follows another high-speed train collision in January near the southern village of Adamuz, which claimed 46 lives and raised concerns about rail safety in Spain. Earlier, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in recent years occurred in 2013, when 80 people died near Santiago de Compostela.
Spain’s high-speed rail network, which opened its first line in 1992, has grown to become the world’s second-largest after China and is regarded as a national achievement. However, this year’s two major accidents on the Madrid-Seville corridor have prompted renewed scrutiny over operational safety.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed shock and condolences on social media, cancelling his planned participation in a summit and suspending his party’s election campaign activities ahead of the general election scheduled for November 29. Sanchez also traveled to the accident site. The Spanish royal household and European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, offered sympathies and support to the victims and emergency workers. The European Union stated it was prepared to provide assistance if requested.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches as a mark of respect. Authorities continue rescue and investigation efforts amid widespread mourning across Spain and Europe.