At least 10 people have died and many more are feared injured after two high-speed trains collided in Toledo province in central Spain.
Spain’s state rail infrastructure authority said services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalucía had been suspended “following a rear-end collision between two trains” on Wednesday morning.
Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha region, where the crash occurred, said authorities could confirm 10 deaths. “The information we are receiving is not good at all. There are at least 10 dead and it is possible that the number will increase,” Padilla told local media.
Government sources told El País that the crash could be worse than the Adamuz rail disaster in January in which 46 people were killed.
Spain’s state broadcaster, TVE, reported that the crash happened after a high-speed train ran into the back of another service, knocking two carriages off the track.
Footage broadcast by regional Castilla La Mancha Television showed a derailed train with at least one carriage remaining on an elevated section of track. Twisted metal, broken panels and wreckage could be seen strewn across an embankment beneath the line.
The rail operator Adif said the collision occurred on the line from Madrid to Seville.
Manuel Galán, the mayor of Urda near the city of Toledo, said he had been asked by emergency services to prepare a sports hall to accommodate the injured.
Spain’s main political parties, which are gearing up for next month’s general election, suspended their planned activities for the day.
The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his shock at news of the crash. “I remain in constant contact with the transport minister, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha,” he said in a post on X. “Emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the involved administrations. My love, solidarity, and support to all the victims and their families.”
The opposition People’s party leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said on X: “Very concerned about the information we are getting about a new rail accident. The priority now is to attend to the victims and support their families. My full support to the emergency teams working on the ground.”
