Spain Train Crash Kills 68, Three Days of National Mourning

MADRID: The death toll from a collision involving two high-speed trains in Spain has risen to 68, up from an earlier reported figure of 50, as rescue and relief operations continue.

The crash occurred at 8:54 a.m. local time near Urda station in Toledo province, about 120 kilometres south of Madrid. Rescue teams are continuing efforts to assist those injured in the accident.

After visiting the crash site, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a comprehensive investigation into the incident. He said those responsible would face action if negligence or weaknesses in the safety system were identified.

“We will find out the real cause of the incident. If negligence or weaknesses in the safety system are found, they will be addressed seriously,” Sánchez said from the control centre established to coordinate rescue and response operations.

Sánchez declared three days of national mourning from October 29 to 31. He expressed condolences to the families of those killed and praised security personnel and emergency service workers involved in the rescue operation.

The collision involved a high-speed AVE train operated by Spain’s state-owned rail company Renfe and a train operated by Iryo. The rear carriages of the Iryo train, which was travelling from Madrid towards Seville, derailed and ended up on a sloping embankment beside a road.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said preliminary assessments indicated a possible technical problem involving the LZB safety system at the Atocha control centre. However, officials said a detailed investigation was needed before a final conclusion could be reached about the cause of the crash.

The incident has been described as Spain’s second major train accident this year. In January, a train derailed in Córdoba. The latest crash has renewed questions about safety arrangements on the country’s high-speed rail network.

Sánchez pledged to take the necessary steps to restore public confidence in rail services and ensure passenger safety. The international community has also expressed condolences following the disaster.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered her condolences to the families and relatives of those killed, saying Europe stood with Spain in its grief.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, also sent a message of condolence to Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Spain’s royal family expressed deep sorrow over the crash. King Felipe VI announced that he would cut short his military training programme at the Jaime military base in Valencia and return to Madrid immediately.

The king said he was returning to assess the rescue operation and coordinate institutional support for affected families.

As investigators work to establish the cause of the collision, the Spanish government has said it will review rail safety arrangements.