In brief
In late October, a collision between a Renfe and an Iryo train near Urda in Toledo province claimed 68 lives and left about 80 injured. Among those wounded were two South Korean nationals, one of whom was discharged after treatment and the other remains hospitalized. Spanish authorities, with international condolences, have launched investigations into a computer‑system error that may have allowed the collision.
A high‑speed train collision near the small town of Urda in Toledo province, south of Madrid, on October 28, 2026, killed at least 68 people and injured many more, Spanish authorities said in a series of statements released the following day.
The crash involved a Renfe AVE train traveling from Madrid to Seville and a stationary Iryo high‑speed carriage that had stopped on the same track. When the Renfe train struck the rear of the idle train, the impact derailed two carriages and sent them tumbling onto an embankment, officials confirmed.
National casualty figures released by the Spanish transport ministry and a regional government tally put the death toll at 68 and the number of injured at roughly 80, with some reports noting 58 or 100 injuries. Among the wounded were two South Korean nationals. The Korean foreign ministry said one had sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. A separate report from Kyodo News suggested that two Japanese passengers may have been aboard, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has confirmed no Bulgarian nationals were reported injured.
The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, spoke at the wreck site in Urda and announced a three‑day period of national mourning from October 29 to 31.
“Spain is in mourning,” he said.
King Felipe VI added a statement of collective grief, saying he “shares in the sorrow of the families and loved ones” of those killed.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente described the crash as the result of a computer failure that allowed the Renfe train to proceed despite a red signal in effect.
“Causing six moving trains, including those that collided, to pause along a 40‑mile stretch of track.”
He added that decision makers later reopened the line, concluding the action “was made under circumstances that are currently inexplicable.” The trade union CSIF has called for Puente’s resignation, arguing that he had used an “exploited person” as a scapegoat and that the accident highlighted excessive working hours at Adif, the state railway manager.
Condolences arrived from abroad. The United Arab Emirates’ president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his grandsons Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent messages to King Felipe VI, offering sympathy to the Spanish people and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also forwarded a cable of condolences to the Spanish king, expressing deep sympathy for the victims and their families.
Rescue operations have intensified over the past 48 hours. Reuters reported that more than 300 personnel, including police, firefighters and medical teams, were deployed to the site to search for survivors among twisted rails and shattered carriages. Forensic teams examined wreckage for visible signs of life while the central command coordinated radio communications with the national transportation agency. At the nearest hospital, officials confirmed more than 40 fatalities and several injured persons, with the casualty count continuing to rise as investigations unfold.
The incident marks the second deadly high‑speed train crash in Spain this year, prompting renewed scrutiny of the country’s rail safety protocols and a call for stricter measures from officials and unions alike.
