Spain Train Accident: 64 Killed in Collision Between Two Trains in Toledo

At least 64 people were killed when two trains collided in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are underway, and authorities have warned that the death toll could rise.

Earlier, Emiliano García-Page, regional president of Castilla-La Mancha, said at least 80 people had been injured. Rescue teams were searching the wreckage for survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Two High-Speed Trains Collide

Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha region, told public broadcaster TVE that two high-speed trains travelling in the same direction were involved in the accident. One train struck the rear of the other, causing two carriages to derail.

Padilla said the exact cause of the collision was being investigated. Both trains were carrying hundreds of passengers and were travelling from the capital, Madrid, towards the southwestern city of Seville.

According to Spain’s railway infrastructure operator ADIF, the accident occurred on Wednesday morning in Toledo province. Rail services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia were suspended following the incident.

Rescue Teams Focus on Damaged Carriages

Spain’s Health Minister, Mónica García, told TVE that rescue workers were concentrating on recovering survivors and the bodies of those killed from the two most severely damaged carriages. The injured were being taken to hospitals across the region.

Renfe and Iryo Trains Involved

The accident involved trains operated by Spain’s state-owned railway company Renfe and private rail operator Iryo. According to Spanish media reports, the Renfe train appeared to have struck the Iryo train from behind.

Padilla said 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train, while 147 passengers were travelling on the Iryo train. The source also noted that a serious accident involving trains operated by the two companies had occurred in January.

Emergency Teams Deployed

An emergency military brigade was deployed to assist emergency services, firefighters and police. Ambulances and helicopters were transporting injured passengers to hospitals, while passengers who escaped unharmed were evacuated from the site by bus.