High-speed crash in Spain kills 64 as trains collide on active track

Sixty-four people died when two high-speed trains collided in Toledo province, Spain, on Wednesday. The death toll rose as rescue teams worked through the wreckage, leaving 80 others injured. The accident occurred in a rural area of the country’s center when an Iryo train hit the rear of a Renfe service that was already stopped on the line. The impact caused several carriages to derail and overturn.

Official data from the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha indicates that 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train at the time of the collision. The Iryo unit carried 147 passengers. Esther Padilla, the regional government spokesperson, confirmed to TVE that both trains were traveling in the same direction before the crash. Regional President Emiliano García-Page reported the updated injury count as search teams inspected the damaged structures.

Local health authorities requested blood donations to treat the wounded and set up a phone line to assist victims’ families. In the nearby town of Urda, Mayor Manuel Galán coordinated the conversion of a sports center into a reception point for those affected by the disaster. Rescue operations continued through the day as officials assessed the extent of the damage to the tracks and carriages.

Miguel, a passenger in the final carriage, described the moment of impact to the radio station COPE. He said he heard a deafening roar and a dull thud that lasted ten seconds, feeling as if the train was about to derail. He added that he saw a destroyed train through the window on the right side of the car. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed that he was deeply saddened by the event. He posted on X to offer his sincere condolences, solidarity, and support to the victims and their families.

The Royal House of Spain also issued a statement sharing the pain of the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. The collision involved a private operator and a state-owned railway company, marking a rare incident of two high-speed trains colliding on a single track. Authorities have not yet released a full cause of the accident, but the immediate impact of the rear-end collision resulted in the mass derailment.

The accident has drawn national attention due to the number of casualties and the involvement of both major operators in Spain’s high-speed network. Local officials in Castilla-La Mancha are managing the immediate response, including medical care for the injured and logistical support for displaced passengers. The site remains a focal point for investigators and emergency personnel as they continue to recover survivors and examine the debris.