At Least 46 Dead in Spain Rail Crash, Toll Feared to Rise

28/10/2026

TOLEDO, Spain, Oct 28: At least 10 people were initially reported killed after two high-speed passenger trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as emergency crews continued rescue operations.

Updated reports later placed the death toll at 46, according to sources cited by Spanish media, although casualty figures were still developing.

The accident occurred at around 8:54 am local time near Urda station in Toledo province, involving a Renfe AVE high-speed train and an Iryo train operating on the Madrid-Seville route.

Preliminary information from Spain's Transport Ministry indicated that the Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo train, causing two carriages to derail and fall down an embankment, according to emergency services.

Government sources told Spanish newspaper El Pais that they feared the disaster could be worse than the January rail crash in Adamuz, southern Spain, which killed 46 people.

Emergency services, including firefighters, medical teams and helicopters, were deployed to the scene. The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha activated its emergency response plan to coordinate rescue and medical operations.

Rail infrastructure operator Adif confirmed that services on the high-speed corridor connecting Madrid with southern Spain had been suspended. Disruptions affected routes linking Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his scheduled engagements to monitor the emergency, while Castilla-La Mancha regional President Emiliano Garcia-Page said he was travelling to the crash site. Political parties also cancelled campaign events scheduled for Wednesday.

The cause of the collision remained under investigation. Authorities had not immediately confirmed the full number of injured passengers as emergency operations continued.