Madrid (Spain): At least 68 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain’s central province of Toledo, according to reports cited in the supplied source. The death toll is feared to rise as rescue teams continue their work at the accident site.
The collision has also left passengers injured and disrupted rail services connecting Madrid with Ciudad Real and the southern region of Andalusia. Spain’s rail infrastructure operator, ADIF, confirmed that the accident took place in Toledo province, while the country’s state-owned news agency and local media reported the fatalities.
Authorities were still assessing the situation, and the exact circumstances that led to the collision had not been established in the initial reports.
Two High-Speed Trains Collide, Coaches Derail
The accident involved two high-speed trains travelling in the same direction. According to a report by The Associated Press (AP), citing Spanish broadcaster TVE, one train struck the rear of the other, causing two coaches to derail.
The precise sequence of events leading to the crash remained unclear. Authorities had not yet released a complete account of how the trains came into contact or confirmed the total number of passengers affected.
Emergency teams continued responding to the incident as officials worked to establish the extent of the damage and assist those caught up in the collision.
Nearby Towns Prepare Emergency Facilities for Passengers
The scale of the accident prompted authorities in nearby towns to prepare facilities for passengers who needed assistance.
Manuel Galán, the mayor of Urda, told TVE that several passengers had been injured. He said civil protection authorities had asked the town administration to make a sports pavilion available to accommodate people affected by the crash.
Jesús Pérez, the mayor of the nearby village of Los Yébenes, also spoke to the broadcaster and described the situation as apparently “serious”.
Emiliano García-Page, the regional president of Castilla-La Mancha, announced on X that he was travelling to the crash site. His visit came as local authorities assessed the situation and coordinated their response.
Rail Services Suspended Between Madrid and Southern Spain
The collision disrupted rail connectivity across parts of central and southern Spain. ADIF announced the suspension of services on routes linking Madrid with Ciudad Real and Andalusia.
The disruption is expected to affect passengers travelling between the Spanish capital and destinations farther south. The initial reports did not provide a timeline for the restoration of services.
Passengers were left facing uncertainty as railway authorities dealt with the aftermath of the crash and assessed the impact on the affected routes.
Spain PM Pedro Sanchez Expresses Solidarity With Victims
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families following the accident.
In a post on X, Sanchez said he was shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo. He added that he was in constant contact with Transport Minister Oscar Puente and Castilla-La Mancha regional president Emiliano García-Page.
“Emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the involved administrations,” Sanchez said.
He also extended his “affection, solidarity, and support” to the victims and their families.
Emergency services continued working at the scene as authorities coordinated assistance for those affected by the collision.
Latest Crash Revives Memories of Spain’s Deadly Railway Disaster
The latest collision comes months after a devastating railway accident in southern Spain claimed 45 lives in January. In that incident, a train derailed and collided with an oncoming train, making it the deadliest rail accident in Spain since the 2013 crash that killed 80 people.
The January disaster shook public confidence in the country’s extensive high-speed rail network. Wednesday’s collision is likely to renew questions about railway safety, although investigators have yet to establish the cause of the latest accident.
As rescue operations continue in Toledo province, authorities are expected to establish more details about the circumstances of the collision, the number of people injured and the full extent of the damage.