A serious railway accident in Urda, in the province of Toledo, has left at least 68 people dead and more than a hundred injured, according to the latest tally. A Renfe AVE train operating the Madrid-Seville route collided from behind with an Iryo train that was stopped on the track. The impact caused several carriages to derail, some of which fell down an embankment.
The incident occurred at around 8:53 a.m., on the section between the Toledo towns of Urda and Los Yébenes. Overnight, emergency teams and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) continued working at the site to attend to the victims and advance rescue efforts. According to the information gathered, more than 500 people remained in the area, including firefighters, UME personnel, health workers and members of the State Security Forces and Corps.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente explained that one of the main lines of investigation is related to a failure of the LZB signalling and safety system, as well as the subsequent authorisation for the AVE to resume its journey. The causes of the accident remain under investigation. The injured were distributed among hospitals in Albacete, Toledo, Ciudad Real and Madrid.
The government declared three days of official mourning, the first day of which began this Thursday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo were expected to travel to Toledo to follow the coordination of the emergency. The Toledo Institute of Legal Medicine, with the work of up to 25 forensic doctors, prepared to begin identifying 52 of the 68 bodies.
High-speed traffic between Madrid and Andalusia remains interrupted, and travellers are advised to check updated information from the rail companies. According to available reports, ticket sales for the route were blocked in the days before the All Saints' long weekend, forcing users to seek alternatives for travelling to Seville, Córdoba or Málaga.
The consequences of the accident also extend to other countries. The Mexican government confirmed that at least one Mexican citizen is missing and seven others were slightly injured. The governments of Japan and South Korea activated monitoring and assistance measures for their citizens affected, and two Japanese nationals are on the passenger list.
Adding to the tragedy, Renfe train drivers have called a 24-hour strike, convened by the Semaf union from 00:01 this Thursday. The workers are demanding structural improvements to safety and compliance with previously agreed commitments. As a result, lines C-1, C-3 and C-4 of Madrid Cercanías were suspended, and the rest of the network experienced delays and route changes. Madrid Metro put its entire available timetable into service during rush hour to meet a possible increase in demand.