Dozens killed in Spanish high-speed train collision (VIDEOS)
At least 68 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided near Toledo, Spain, Castilla-La Mancha regional President Emiliano Garcia-Page has said, according to Spanish newspaper ABC. More than 179 people have reportedly been injured.
The crash occurred at 8:54 AM local time on Wednesday between the towns of Los Yebenes and Urda, around 120 km south of Madrid, on the high-speed line linking the Spanish capital with Andalusia. A Renfe AVE train reportedly struck an Iryo train from behind, sending two carriages off the tracks and down an embankment, according to rail infrastructure operator Adif.
WATCH: Dozens confirmed killed as aerial footage reveals devastation after train collision in Toledo, Spain https://t.co/vwdz3IlGlT
— Klaxon Wire (@KlaxonWire) October 28, 2026
The two trains were carrying a combined total of more than 500 passengers, according to Spanish media reports.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced three days of national mourning and pledged a thorough investigation into the disaster. Speaking at the crash site, he vowed to establish the cause of the collision and hold anyone responsible for negligence accountable.
Former Spanish Labor Minister Fatima Banez, 59, was among those killed, according to several Spanish media outlets. Banez served under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from 2011 to 2018 and was reportedly travelling aboard the Iryo train to attend a business event in Seville.
Spain’s Transport Ministry has identified human error by an operator at rail infrastructure manager Adif as the leading preliminary explanation for the crash. An operator reportedly authorized the Renfe train to pass a red signal despite the Iryo service remaining stationary on the same track.
BREAKING: 🇪🇸 The death toll from the train collision in Spain has risen to 50 At least 50 people were killed and 179 injured when two trains collided in Toledo, Antena 3 reported. The Iryo train was carrying 147 passengers and the AVE train 397. https://t.co/8l4uJI7JgM
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 28, 2026
The suspected mistake followed a malfunction of the railway’s automatic safety system, which forced several trains to stop and required traffic controllers to manage movements manually. Investigators are still working to establish the exact cause.
Images shared online show overturned and badly damaged carriages, with emergency crews working at the scene.
Castilla-La Mancha regional President Emiliano Garcia-Page has requested assistance from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit. Adif has suspended high-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Andalusia. Iryo said it activated all emergency protocols.
Iryo confirma el accidente de su tren 6076 en Urda y cancela todos sus servicios hacia el sur Patricia MedjidiJuez | Tribuna Digital7 28 de octubre de 2026 La compañía ferroviaria Iryo ha comunicado la activación de todos sus protocolos de emergencia tras el accidente sufrido este miércoles por uno de sus trenes a la altura de Urda, en la provincia de Toledo. Según el comunicado difundido en sus redes sociales, el convoy afectado es el servicio 6076, que realizaba el trayecto Madrid-Sevilla. La operadora asegura que trabaja en estrecha colaboración con las autoridades competentes para gestionar la emergencia y atender las consecuencias del siniestro. Como consecuencia del accidente, Iryo ha cancelado todos sus servicios con origen en Madrid-Puerta de Atocha hacia el corredor sur. La compañía advierte de que no existe por el momento ninguna previsión de restablecimiento de la circulación ferroviaria y anuncia que continuará informando a los viajeros a través de sus canales oficiales. El accidente ha provocado también la interrupción de la línea de alta velocidad Madrid-Andalucía, confirmada por Adif. El comunicado de Iryo no precisa el número de víctimas ni las causas de la colisión, que continúan pendientes de esclarecimiento. Fuentes: Comunicado de Iryo difundido en redes sociales, según el texto facilitado a Tribuna Digital7; InfoAdif; La Voz del Tajo, 28 de octubre de 2026.
— Tribuna Digital7 (@TribunaLibreES) October 28, 2026
Wednesday’s disaster is the latest in a series of serious railway accidents in Spain this year, raising concerns over the safety of the country’s rail network. On January 18, two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern province of Cordoba, killing 46 people and injuring more than 150. Investigators have identified a broken section of track as the likely cause, although the investigation is ongoing.
WATCH: Sheer force of train collision between Los Yébenes and Urda in Toledo, Spain sends wheels flying far from the tracks; at least 46 killed https://t.co/32RoUdWDLT
— Klaxon Wire (@KlaxonWire) October 28, 2026
Just two days later, a commuter train struck a collapsed retaining wall near Barcelona, killing the driver and injuring dozens. Another passenger train collided with a crane near Cartagena on January 22, injuring six, and a collision at a level crossing in February reportedly left one person dead.
The incidents have fueled concerns over railway infrastructure and maintenance standards, prompting demands for stronger safety measures. The Spanish train drivers’ union (SEMAF) has called a nationwide strike for Thursday, October 29, accusing Renfe and the Transport Ministry of failing to implement safety improvements promised after the disasters in January. Renfe dismissed the accusations, insisting it has fulfilled its commitments.
The full extent of the casualties and the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s collision remain under investigation.
