In brief
A high‑speed collision near Urda on October 28 killed at least 68 people and injured around 80, among them two South Korean passengers, one discharged with minor injuries and the other hospitalized. The crash involved a Renfe train striking a stationary Iryo carriage on the Madrid‑Seville line. Spanish officials are investigating a computer‑related fault, while the government declared three days of mourning. International leaders, including those from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, sent condolences.
The high‑speed collision near the town of Urda in Toledo province, south of Madrid, occurred on the early morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, on the Madrid‑Seville line. At least 68 people were killed and roughly 80 were injured, including two South Korean nationals. One Korean passenger suffered minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized, according to the Seoul foreign ministry.
Eyewitness reports say a Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid to Seville slammed into the rear of a stationary Iryo high‑speed carriage. Two carriages derailed and rolled onto an embankment, sending many passengers into the wreckage. The incident occurred when the moving train had been permitted to depart despite a red signal, according to Spain’s transport minister.
The Seoul foreign ministry confirmed that 11 South Korean passengers had been on board the two trains involved, and said it was monitoring the situation in close contact with the Spanish embassy. "Our embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties," the ministry said.
Japanese and other foreign ministries have also been asked to check on potential casualties; two Japanese nationals were believed to be aboard, according to a foreign ministry statement. Spanish authorities are investigating a computer failure that may have caused the signal to remain red, a claim made by Minister Oscar Puente who said, in a press conference, that a rail control centre had told the driver to depart the following train despite a red signal and with no speed restrictions in place.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a three‑day period of national mourning from October 29 to 31, the day after the crash. "Today the whole of Spain is grieving," Sánchez said, speaking at the scene. King Felipe VI also expressed sorrow, stating in a statement later Wednesday that he "shares in the sorrow of the families and loved ones" of those who died. Rail service remains suspended between Madrid and the Andalusian region while rescue crews work to locate anyone trapped in the wreckage.
Several international leaders sent messages of condolence. The UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his Vice Presidents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, each sent condolences to King Felipe VI and to the families of victims. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also issued a cable expressing deep sympathy and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
