In brief
On Oct. 28, a Renfe high‑speed train struck the back of a stationary Iryo train near the town of Urda in Spain’s Toledo province, killing at least 68 and injuring about 80. Two South Korean passengers were among those injured; one suffered minor injuries and was released from the hospital, the other remains hospitalized. Spanish authorities are probing possible signalling or control errors that may have caused the crash.
On Oct. 28, a high‑speed train ran into a stationary train near Urda in Toledo province, south of Madrid, killing at least 68 people and injuring around 80. Two South Korean citizens were among those hurt. The Korea foreign ministry said one passenger had minor injuries and was discharged from a hospital, while the other is still in care.
The collision occurred on the Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line when a Renfe AVE train struck the rear of an Iryo train that had stopped on the track. Two carriages derailed and collapsed into an embankment, causing the high death toll.
Spanish health officials reported about 50 people with serious injuries and 15 in critical condition. At least 58 were hospitalized; emergency teams worked into the night to search the wreckage for survivors.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said a computer failure initially halted six trains on a 40‑mile stretch, and that the control centre decided to let the Renfe train depart without speed limits while a red signal was still showing. He called the decision “inexplicable” and said the crash may have been caused by a human error.
The national government has declared three days of mourning and pledged to investigate the cause. Spanish authorities are examining signalling systems and the decision‑making process at the control centre.
International leaders, including Ukraine’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sent condolences to King Felipe VI and the families of victims, wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
