▲ Spain Train Collision
A high-speed train collision occurred near Toledo, south of the Spanish capital of Madrid, on the 28th local time, leaving at least 30 people dead.
According to AP, AFP, and Reuters, a train operated by private railway company Ilio and a train operated by state-owned railway company Renfe AVE collided at around 9 a.m. that day near Urda in the Toledo region of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha.
The two trains were traveling from Madrid toward Seville in Andalusia when they collided near Urda, about 120 kilometers south of Madrid.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear.
Major foreign media outlets, citing the regional government of Castile-La Mancha, reported that the death toll is at least 30.
British broadcaster Sky News reported that at least 39 people had died, while some Spanish media outlets reported 50 dead and 179 injured.
Ester Padilla, spokesperson for the regional government of Castile-La Mancha, explained that a total of 544 people were on board, including 397 on the Renfe train and 147 on the Ilio train.
It was confirmed that six South Korean nationals were on board the accident trains and sustained minor injuries.
Lim Soo-suk, South Korean Ambassador to Spain, told Yonhap News that consular assistance is being provided to the six citizens with minor injuries and that authorities are continuing to check for any additional casualties.
The death toll could rise.
Health Minister Monica Garcia told TVE that rescue teams are focusing on finding survivors in the two carriages that suffered the most severe damage, and that the injured are being transported to hospitals.
Minister Garcia stated, "Given that it was a high-speed collision, a disaster is expected."
Spokesperson Padilla added on state broadcaster TVE that the accident occurred between two high-speed trains heading from Madrid to Seville, and that one of them rammed into the rear of the other, causing the train to derail.
Railway infrastructure manager ADIF announced immediately after the accident on X, "Train operations on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line have been suspended following a rear-end collision between two trains."
Photos and videos released by foreign media show multiple carriages off the tracks and tumbled down an embankment, with substantial parts of the car bodies destroyed.
Jesus Geronimo, who was heading to Seville for work on the Renfe train, told the Spanish newspaper El Pais, "People were thrown around inside the train."
Geronimo recounted, "It felt like the train had derailed, and when I slowly made my way outside, I saw that our train was tilted."
Manuel Galan, Mayor of Urda, told TVE that passengers were injured and that he had been asked to prepare space in the town's sports hall to accommodate passengers.
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been released.
However, ABC and El Pais reported, citing sources, that human error is believed to be involved, as the trailing Renfe AVE train apparently failed to receive signals regarding the Ilio train ahead of it.
Reuters also reported, citing sources, that the collision occurred while the Ilio train was stopped due to signal issues under the instructions of railway infrastructure manager ADIF.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on X, "I am shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo."
Sanchez emphasized, "I send my condolences, solidarity, and support to the victims and their families."
Prime Minister Sanchez and the leadership of the main opposition party postponed their campaign schedules for the snap general election coming up on the 29th of next year due to the massive accident.
King Felipe VI also expressed in a statement on X, "I feel deep sorrow and concern over this train accident."
King Felipe VI added, "I share the grief of those who have lost loved ones and send my support to the injured."
This accident comes nine months after a train collision disaster occurred in January near Adamuz in Cordoba, Andalusia, killing 46 people.
That accident prompted successive criticisms regarding a lack of investment in railway maintenance.
About 80 people died in a train derailment accident in 2013 as well.
Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, spanning a total length of over 3,900 kilometers.
It ranks second in the world behind China.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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