Spain train crash: At least 39 dead in high speed rail collision near Toledo
Collision halts rail service
A Renfe train and an Iryo train collided shortly after 9am, according to a Castilla-La Mancha government spokesperson. The trains were travelling from Madrid towards Seville, Adif said.
The rail operator reported a rear-end collision and suspended traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed route. Two Iryo carriages left the tracks, the regional spokesperson said.
Death toll and response
Local authorities told Sky News that at least 39 people had died. The cause of the crash and the number of people injured remained under investigation. Manuel Galan, mayor of Urda near Toledo, said emergency services asked him to prepare a sports hall for injured people. Images posted on social media showed carriages lying on their sides in a ditch.
Leaders express concern
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was “shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo.” He said he was in contact with the transport minister and the president of Castilla-La Mancha, and offered support to victims and their families. Antonio Maíllo, a federal coordinator, said he feared “the worst” and called for caution as more information emerged. Esther Padilla, a regional government spokesperson, had earlier reported 10 confirmed deaths.
Key points
- At least 39 people were reported killed in the collision.
- A Renfe and an Iryo train crashed between Mora and Orgaz shortly after 9am.
- The crash suspended high-speed service between Madrid and Andalusia.
- Officials said the cause and injury toll were still being determined.