Spain Halts Wednesday Schedule After Two Trains Collide Near Toledo
At least 46 people died in the crash, which left two carriages off the tracks.
By Chloe Edwards ·
The Spanish government canceled its scheduled activities for Wednesday following a fatal train collision in central Spain. Officials confirmed the decision as emergency services responded to the scene.
At least 46 people died when two high-speed trains collided between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda in the province of Toledo. The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further.
The collision involved an AVE high-speed train and an Iryo service. Both trains were traveling in the same direction, according to Spanish state broadcaster TVE. One train struck the rear of the other, causing two carriages to plunge down an embankment. Rail infrastructure operator ADIF confirmed the incident, while operator Renfe suspended services between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia.
Local sources stated that the trains were traveling to and from Seville. Manuel Galans, the mayor of Urda, told TVE that passengers were injured. Civil protection authorities asked the town hall to prepare a sports pavilion to receive affected passengers. Antonio Sanz, the Andalusian minister for health and emergencies, said mobile intensive care units and a logistics support vehicle were dispatched to the scene.
Support services are also being established in Madrid. Inmaculada Sanz, the deputy mayor, said personnel from SAMUR, the city's emergency medical service, were heading to Atocha train station. They are preparing a room to support relatives of victims and injured passengers. She noted that a similar room was used on the first floor of the station following the Adamuz train accident in January.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted on X that he was deeply saddened by the accident in Urda. He expressed solidarity and support to the victims and their families. He added that emergency services were working to ensure the safety of those affected. The crash follows a previous incident in January when 45 people died after a train derailed and struck an oncoming train in southern Spain.
Source: Bristol Post
