In brief
A Renfe high‑speed train slammed into a stationary Iryo carriage near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province on Oct. 28, killing at least 68 people and injuring many, among them two South Korean nationals. Spanish officials blamed a computer‑control error, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of mourning and called for accountability. International leaders, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offered condolences to the Spanish people.
A high‑speed train collision near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday, Oct. 28, killed at least 68 people and left dozens injured, including two South Korean nationals, according to the Korean foreign ministry. The accident involved a Renfe AVE train traveling from Madrid to Seville that struck the rear of a stationary Iryo carriage on the Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line.
Initial reports from Spanish authorities said the crash derailed two carriages and caused the rear carriages to roll into a nearby embankment. Roughly 70–80 passengers sustained injuries, with about 50 taken to hospitals in critical condition and 15 in intensive care, according to statements from the regional government of Castilla‑La Mancha. Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said at a press conference that a rail‑control center had cleared the following train to depart despite a red signal and a stalled train ahead, calling the decision a clear and inexplicable error.
The Korean foreign ministry confirmed that 11 South Korean nationals had been on the trains involved. One passenger received minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital, while the other remains hospitalized. The ministry added that its embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to monitor the status of Korean casualties. “Our embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties,” a ministry spokesperson said.
Foreign ministry officials in Tokyo noted that two names on the passenger lists appeared to belong to Japanese nationals, and the ministry was checking on their safety. The claim has not yet been confirmed by Spanish authorities, but it highlights the international nature of the victim list.
In response to the tragedy, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—speaking from the crash site at Urda—announced a three‑day national mourning period from Oct. 29 to 31.
“Today the whole of Spain is grieving,”
he said, adding that the government would investigate the causes of the crash and hold those responsible accountable. King Felipe VI released a statement that he “shares in the sorrow of the families and loved ones” of those who died.
Spain’s transport authorities suspended rail service between Madrid and the Andalusian region, and the Spanish railway operator Renfe announced that crews were working into the night to clear the damaged tracks. More than 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit were on the scene, and local town councils were gathering food and supplies for affected residents.
Investigators are focusing on the role of the railway’s control systems. Audio recordings released in the Spanish press suggest that a computer failure initially paused six moving trains, including the two involved in the collision, along a 40‑mile stretch. The control center subsequently allowed the Renfe train to proceed without speed restrictions, despite a remaining red light, leading the train to collide with the stalled Iryo carriage.
Spanish rail trade union CSIF has called for Transport Minister Puente’s resignation over his comments about a “human error” that could have led to the crash. Union statements accuse the minister of blaming a single individual while ignoring systemic issues. The union also highlighted prior warnings that the rail control center had experienced “excess hours” during maintenance in September.
International leaders have expressed sympathy for the victims. The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with Vice Presidents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent condolence messages to Spain’s king and the wounded. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also called Prime Minister Sánchez, offering condolences and discussing strengthening bilateral relations.
In subsequent days, a preliminary report by Spain’s independent transport accident investigation authority AITAT lifted the death toll to 74, while the number of injuries remained provisional, illustrating how the official figures continue to evolve as rescue operations proceed.
Viewers of MetaWorld Media can follow live updates from the crash site and hear testimonies from survivors, such as 46‑year‑old Sebastian Herrero, who survived the impact and has called for accountability from the rail operators and the government.
