At least 64 people have been killed and more than 80 injured after two high-speed trains collided near Toledo, Spain, on Wednesday, 28 October, according to the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha.

Emergency services are continuing rescue operations at the scene, while 58 injured passengers remain in hospital, 15 of them in an extremely critical condition.

A person familiar with the incident told Reuters that an Iryo train had stopped near Toledo on the instructions of rail infrastructure operator Adif because of a signalling fault when it was struck by a Renfe train. The collision caused carriages from both trains to derail.

Neither Renfe nor Iryo immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Jesús Pérez Martín, mayor of Los Yébenes, a town near the crash site, described the situation as “horrific”. “I am being told about amputations and extremely serious injuries,” he told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.

The regional authorities initially reported 10 fatalities before revising the figure upwards to 46, warning that further casualties could be confirmed as rescue teams continued their work.

🚨🇪🇸 EILMELDUNG: Schweres Zugunglück in Spanien – mindestens 46 Tote In der spanischen Provinz Toledo sind auf der Hochgeschwindigkeitsstrecke zwischen Madrid und Sevilla zwei Züge zusammengestoßen. Das Unglück ereignete sich am Morgen des 28. Oktober nahe Urda, zwischen Mora und Orgaz. Nach bisherigen Angaben entgleisten mindestens zwei Waggons und stürzten eine Böschung hinunter. Die regionalen Rettungsbehörden melden mindestens 46 Todesopfer. Zahlreiche Menschen wurden verletzt, die Rettungs- und Sucharbeiten dauern an. In den beiden Zügen sollen sich insgesamt mehr als 500 Fahrgäste befunden haben. Spaniens Ministerpräsident Pedro Sánchez zeigte sich tief erschüttert und steht nach eigenen Angaben in engem Kontakt mit dem Verkehrsminister und den regionalen Behörden. Der Zugverkehr auf der Strecke Madrid–Andalusien wurde ausgesetzt. Die Unfallursache ist noch nicht abschließend geklärt; erste Überlegungen richten sich unter anderem auf einen möglichen Fehler im Zusammenhang mit der Signalisierung. ⚠️ Die Lage ist weiterhin dynamisch. Die Opferzahlen und Angaben zum Unfallhergang können sich ändern. Quelle: Reuters, El País, ABC, La Voz de Galicia, Behörden von Castilla-La Mancha (28. Oktober 2026)

— Laura 🇩🇪 (@1980Aktuell) October 28, 2026

High-speed train crashes into stationary service

According to a person familiar with the incident who spoke to Reuters, a train operated by Iryo had stopped near Toledo on the instructions of the railway infrastructure operator following a signalling failure.

A Renfe high-speed train subsequently collided with the stationary service, causing carriages from both trains to derail.

Initial reports suggest that the Renfe AVE train struck the Iryo service from behind, derailing two of its carriages.

The Iryo train was carrying 147 passengers, while the other service had 397 people on board. Both trains were operating routes to and from Seville.

Neither Renfe nor Iryo immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Jesús Pérez Martín, the mayor of Los Yébenes, near the scene of the disaster, described the situation as “horrific”.

“I am hearing reports of amputations and very serious injuries,” he told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.

What is happening in Spain? Aerial footage shows the aftermath of two high-speed trains colliding in Spain. ⁠ At least 46 people are feared dead and scores injured, according to reports, following the crash which happened on the line connecting Madrid to the southern Andalusia region.⁠ ⁠ The accident occurred shortly after 9am local time (0800 GMT) between the towns of Los Yebenes and Urda, in the province of Toledo.⁠ ⁠ It involved a high-speed AVE train that had left Madrid bound for Seville and an Iryo train travelling in the opposite direction, the report said.⁠ A total of 544 passengers were on board. ⁠ 🔗 Tap the link in our comments to read more

— The Times and Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 28, 2026

Survivors describe deafening impact and scenes of devastation

Passengers who survived the collision have described terrifying moments as the trains crashed, with witnesses reporting screams, shattered carriages and people trapped beneath the wreckage.

Miguel, who was travelling with colleagues in the rear carriages of one of the trains, told Spanish radio station COPE that the impact was preceded by an enormous noise. “We heard a very loud rumbling, a really tremendous crash that lasted 10 seconds, as though the train was derailing,” he said. “Through the window on the right, we could see a destroyed train. I imagine it was the other one involved in the collision.”

Another passenger, Patricia, who said she was pregnant, described seeing a badly damaged carriage through the window. “I looked out of the window and saw one of the carriages that had fallen over and was completely burnt,” she told COPE. She praised the composure of fellow passengers, who helped her escape despite the frightening circumstances. “I can see a lot of people out here. Honestly, the people in the carriage remained remarkably calm given the situation, and they helped me get out. We are all here trying to come to terms with what happened.”

‘I could hear people screaming. It was horrible’

One of the most distressing accounts came from Eduarda, a 17-year-old passenger who described scenes of chaos immediately after the collision.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, she said she had seen victims beneath the trains and heard people desperately calling for help. “Many people couldn’t get out. I could hear screams… It was horrible,” she said. “It was a disaster… I could hear people screaming in panic.”

The teenager said the force of the impact threw her forwards. Initially, she believed the train had made an emergency stop. She only realised the seriousness of the situation when she saw injured passengers and was instructed to leave the train.

Her account was among several testimonies emerging from the crash site as emergency personnel worked to reach those trapped in the damaged carriages.

Spanish prime minister and King Felipe VI express condolences

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “shocked” by the railway disaster in Urda, Toledo, and expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families.

In a message posted on X, Sánchez said emergency services were working at the scene to assist those affected and ensure their safety.

Consternado ante el grave accidente de trenes en Toledo. Permanezco en constante contacto con el ministro de Transportes, @oscar_puente_, y con el presidente de Castilla-La Mancha, @garciapage. Los servicios de emergencia están trabajando sobre el terreno para atender a las personas afectadas y garantizar su seguridad, en coordinación con todas las administraciones implicadas. Mi cariño, solidaridad y apoyo a todas las víctimas y sus familias.

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) October 28, 2026

King Felipe VI also expressed his condolences following the tragedy.

The monarch conveyed the royal family’s “condolences, support and affection” to those affected at what he described as an exceptionally painful and difficult time.

Second major railway disaster in nine months

Wednesday’s collision comes nine months after another serious accident involving high-speed trains operated by the same companies on the same railway line.

That disaster, which occurred in January near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, claimed 46 lives.

The earlier collision happened when one train derailed and struck another service, prompting renewed public debate in Spain over investment in railway maintenance and the condition of the country’s rail infrastructure.

The latest disaster is likely to bring renewed scrutiny to railway safety, although the precise circumstances of Wednesday’s collision have yet to be established.

‼️Accidente tren 🚨 La Guardia Civil ha desplegado en la zona personal de Seguridad Ciudadana de la provincia de Toledo, OMAC (Oficinas Móviles de Atención a la Ciudadanía) así como agentes del SEPRONA y de la Jefatura de Tráfico. ✔️ También se desplazan a la zona en este momento unidades de Seguridad Ciudadana de Ciudad Real y Albacete, de los Grupos de Reserva y Seguridad (GRS), del Servicio Aéreo, de drones, grupo de Caballería y el Equipo de Grandes Catástrofes del Servicio de Criminalística, del Servicio Cinológico y de Policía Judicial.

— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) October 28, 2026

European Union offers assistance to Spain

The European Union has said it is ready to provide whatever assistance Spanish authorities may require following the collision south of Madrid.

“We are ready to offer any assistance to the Spanish authorities,” European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said on Wednesday.

However, she stressed that it was far too early to establish what had caused the disaster.

“It is far too early, much too early, to draw conclusions,” Pinho said.

Rescue operations remain under way, with authorities warning that the confirmed death toll could rise as emergency teams continue searching the wreckage.