Two high-speed trains collide on Madrid–Andalusia line, killing dozens
Two high-speed trains collided on the Madrid–Andalusia line, with several carriages derailing. The reported death toll has reached at least 39.
Two high-speed trains collided on the Madrid–Andalusia line in central Spain on Wednesday morning, leaving at least 39 people dead according to several reports, with many more injured. Services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalucía were suspended after the crash.
According to the reports, one train ran into the back of another, causing two carriages to leave the tracks and roll down an embankment. Spain's state rail infrastructure authority said services had been halted «following a rear-end collision between two trains». Some accounts place the incident between the towns of Mora and Orgaz in Toledo province and say a Renfe and an Iryo train were involved, with the collision occurring just after 9am.
Early reports varied sharply on the toll. Some outlets initially described fatalities as feared rather than confirmed, with estimates of at least 10 dead in the first hours, before later reports put the figure at 39 or more. Casualty numbers in incidents of this kind often change as rescue teams reach the wreckage, so the final count should be treated as provisional until confirmed by Spanish authorities.
The Madrid–Andalusia route is one of the busiest high-speed corridors in Spain, linking the capital with major southern cities. The suspension of services is expected to disrupt travel across the network, and passengers on the affected routes have been left facing delays while the line is assessed.
Investigators are expected to focus on how the two trains came into contact on the same line, and the condition of the injured and the response of emergency services are still emerging. Updates from Spanish rail and emergency authorities are expected to clarify the scale of the incident and set out the next steps in the investigation.
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