Spain High-Speed Train Crash Kills at Least 10
At least 10 people died and more are feared dead after a high-speed train collided with another stopped train in central Spain.
A high-speed train slammed into the rear of another stopped train in central Spain on Wednesday, derailing two cars and killing at least 10 people, authorities reported. The death toll is expected to rise.
The collision occurred Wednesday morning in the province of Toledo between two high-speed trains operated by state-owned RENFE and private operator IRYO. Both trains were traveling in the same direction from Madrid. The RENFE train struck the tail of the IRYO train, which had stopped, causing two of its cars to derail.
Authorities confirmed 10 deaths, with the number anticipated to increase. Emergency services, firefighters, police, and a military emergency brigade were deployed to the crash site, which was described as a flat stretch surrounded by fields.
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García stated that rescue efforts were focused on the two most damaged train cars, where survivors and bodies were being recovered. The injured were being transported to local hospitals. "It was a high-speed impact, so we are expecting this to be a tragedy," García said.
A total of 397 passengers were on the RENFE train and 147 passengers were on the IRYO train. IRYO confirmed it has activated its security protocols and is cooperating with authorities.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez canceled his agenda to address the accident, expressing his dismay on X and stating that emergency services were attending to the affected passengers. This incident follows another deadly train crash in southern Spain in January, which claimed 45 lives and raised concerns about the country's high-speed rail network.