In brief
A collision between a Renfe AVE and an Iryo train near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province killed 68 and injured about 80, including two South Koreans. The Korean foreign ministry reports one minor injury and one hospitalized, while Spanish authorities investigate signal failures and possible negligence.
A high‑speed train hit a stationary train near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday, killing at least 68 people and injuring roughly 80 passengers, according to reports from Al Jazeera and UPI.
The collision, involving a Renfe AVE train traveling from Madrid to Seville and an Iryo high‑speed carriage, derailed two carriages and sent them rolling into an embankment, causing most casualties.
Initial figures from the Spanish government said about 100 people were hurt, with around 50 serious cases and 15 critical, while the regional health minister said the injured were being moved to nearby hospitals.
According to the Korean foreign ministry, two South Korean nationals were aboard the trains. One passenger sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized, the ministry said.
Our embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking from the crash site, declared three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31 and said the nation was “in mourning.”
Spanish officials say a computer error allowed the following train to depart with a red signal still on, a mistake that may have caused the crash. An investigation is ongoing into signalling failures and possible negligence.
UAE leaders have sent condolences to King Felipe VI, the Spanish public, and the victims’ families, wishing speedier recoveries for the injured.
The tragedy has sparked protests on the streets of Madrid, and rail service between Madrid and the Andalusian region remains suspended as authorities search for survivors.
