In brief
A high‑speed train operated by Spain’s Renfe struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train near Urda, derailing two carriages and killing at least 68 people. Roughly 80 passengers were injured, among them two South Koreans; one sustained minor injuries and was discharged, the other remains hospitalized. Spanish authorities are investigating the cause and have declared three days of official mourning.
In the early hours of Wednesday, a high‑speed Renfe train collided with the rear of a stationary Iryo train on Spain’s high‑speed line between Madrid and Seville, near the town of Urda in Toledo province. The impact derailed two carriages and killed at least 68 people, while about 80 passengers were injured, some seriously and many critically, according to the regional government.
Among the casualties were two South Korean nationals. The Korean foreign ministry confirmed that one passenger had received only minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. Seoul’s ministry said 11 South Korean passengers had been aboard the trains at the time of the crash.
Seoul’s foreign ministry added that its embassy in Spain was in close contact with local authorities and continuing to monitor for any additional Korean casualties.
Spanish officials opened official mourning on the same day. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addressed the country from Urda, stating,
"Spain is in mourning, and we will get to the bottom of this. If there was negligence it will be revealed, and if there were system failures we will respond strongly."
He said the government would declare three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31, adding that the country could not afford another major accident in the same year while facing a national election just over a month away.
Investigation and Response
The crash involved an AVE high‑speed train traveling from Madrid to Seville and an Iryo train operated by the private rail company. Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the Castilla‑La Mancha regional government, told Spanish broadcaster TVE that the trains had been traveling in the same direction when the Renfe train struck the rear of the stationary Iryo train.
More than 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit have been working at the site. The town council of Los Yebenes has supplied food and basic necessities to those affected by the accident. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García reported that injured passengers were being transported to several hospitals in the area and that many serious cases still required immediate evacuation.
Spanish authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash, with early reports pointing to possible signalling failures and negligence on the part of the railway companies. The incident follows a January collision that prompted the government to promise nationwide checks on all rail lines.
A journalist speaking to Al Jazeera described the crash as coming at an “awful time” for the government, noting the upcoming election and the recent January incident. He added that passengers on board were commuters traveling from Madrid to Seville and tourists, underscoring the tragedy’s broad impact.
