Two high-speed trains collided in central Spain, leaving dozens dead and more than 100 injured. Authorities have appealed for urgent blood donations as emergency crews continue working at the scene.
At least 68 people have been killed in a high-speed train collision in Spain’s Toledo province, according to regional authorities, in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in decades. The death toll may rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:54 a.m. Wednesday near Urda, between the towns of Mora and Orgaz, on the high-speed railway connecting Madrid and Seville.
A Renfe AVE train collided with an Iryo passenger train that was stopped on the tracks. The impact derailed several carriages, with some plunging down an embankment. A total of 544 passengers were reported to have been aboard the two trains.
Emergency Crews Continue Search and Recovery Operations
Firefighters, medical teams, police and military emergency personnel have been deployed to the crash site. Rescue workers have faced difficult conditions while searching damaged carriages and recovering victims.
More than 100 people were reported injured, including passengers with serious injuries. Hospitals in the surrounding region have mobilized staff and resources to treat those affected.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his scheduled engagements and expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families.
The collision has also prompted renewed concern about railway safety in Spain, following another deadly high-speed rail accident in January near Adamuz, in Córdoba province, in which 46 people were killed.
Authorities Urge the Public to Donate Blood
Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García issued an urgent appeal for blood donations to help hospitals respond to the needs arising from the disaster.
Regional authorities have also called on eligible donors to replenish supplies, with donation points available in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha. Officials are encouraging members of the public to consult official health service information for locations and opening hours.
Cause of the Collision Under Investigation
Investigators are working to establish how the Renfe train struck the stationary Iryo service. Early reports have raised questions about railway signalling and traffic management, but the precise sequence of events remains under investigation.
Rail services on the high-speed corridor between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended following the collision, disrupting travel between the capital and southern Spain.
Authorities continue to update casualty figures as recovery work progresses.
