64 killed, dozens injured as two high-speed trains collide in Spain

At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest railway disasters in more than a decade.

The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency responders continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were reportedly travelling aboard the two trains involved.

Reports indicated that the collision involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating along the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by broadcasters showed sections of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while several carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.

The cause of the accident had yet to be officially established. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.

The magnitude of the disaster triggered a massive emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue personnel and police officers.

At least 80 people were reported injured, with approximately 50 said to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.

Several victims were evacuated to hospitals in neighbouring areas, while others were transported to Madrid for medical treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended scheduled surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.

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Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations amid concerns over increased demand for blood supplies.

Survivors recounted terrifying scenes of panic, destruction and confusion following the collision.

One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that the impact was so powerful that it threw him into the seats in front of him.

He described scenes of injured passengers suffering broken noses and arms as smoke spread through the train carriages.

Herrero said the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping from the wreckage, he encountered injured passengers and bodies scattered around the crash site.

Meanwhile, BBC Verify analysed images and videos purportedly showing a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about railway safety in Spain, which has experienced several devastating train accidents over the years.

The country suffered another fatal high-speed rail accident near Córdoba, where 46 people reportedly died, while its deadliest recent railway disaster occurred in July 2013 when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock over the latest disaster, saying he remained in contact with the country’s transport minister as authorities coordinated emergency operations.

The Spanish royal family also conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and commended emergency responders for their efforts in rescuing survivors and assisting the injured.