In brief
At least 68 people lost their lives when a Renfe high‑speed train struck a stationary Iryo carriage near Urda on October 28, 2026. Spanish authorities are investigating a computer‑system error that may have allowed the moving train to depart with a red signal. Two South Korean passengers were injured, one in a minor condition and the other still hospitalized. The crash drew international condolences and prompted Spain’s leaders to declare a three‑day mourning period.
A high‑speed train collision near the small town of Urda in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday morning killed at least 68 people and left dozens injured, according to Spanish authorities. The crash involved a Renfe AVE train en route from Madrid to Seville and an Iryo train that was stationary on the same track. Two carriages derailed and rolled over onto an embankment.
On Thursday the Spanish foreign ministry confirmed that two South Korean nationals were among the injured. According to Yonhap, one passenger sustained minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital, while the other remains hospitalized. The ministry said the embassy in Spain was monitoring the situation closely and awaiting further information on Korean casualties.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrived at the crash site in Urda and declared three days of national mourning.
“Today the whole of Spain is grieving,” Sánchez said, speaking at the scene of the accident. “Lives have been shattered, families have been torn apart, the pain is immense.”He added that the government would investigate the incident thoroughly and hold officials accountable if negligence was found.
Investigators are focusing on a computer failure that prevented a safety system from halting moving trains. Transport Minister Oscar Puente told a press conference that a rail‑control center had instructed the Renfe train to depart despite a red signal and an occupied track. Puente called the decision a “clear and inexplicable error.” The incident has prompted calls from Spanish trade unions for Puente’s resignation and from the government for stricter safety protocols.
Additional international reactions included condolences from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of sympathy to King Felipe VI, wishing the victim’s families peace and Israeli travelers a swift recovery. The UAE’s President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with two of his vice presidents, also messaged condolences to the Spanish king and people, as reported by WAM.
Kyodo News noted that two Japanese nationals may have been aboard the trains involved, based on passenger lists. The Japanese foreign ministry was reportedly checking on their safety, but no injuries or names had been confirmed publicly. Meanwhile, Bulgarian officials stated no Bulgarian nationals were injured, according to BTA, and that they were offering consular assistance to victims if needed.
Rescue teams from the Military Emergencies Unit and local emergency services are still combing the wreckage, working under floodlights to locate survivors and identify victims. The National Railway Authority has suspended service on the Madrid‑Seville line while debris is cleared and track repairs are initiated. The scale of the emergency has called for coordination among police, firefighters, medical teams, and forensic investigators to gather evidence and ensure a rapid investigation.
In the days following the crash, Spanish media outlets, including Al Jazeera and Reuters, have highlighted the ongoing search and the emotional toll on nearby communities. They report that up to 100 people were injured, with several requiring immediate evacuation to hospitals, and that more than 500 passengers were aboard the two trains at the time of the collision. The tragedy is noted as one of the worst rail disasters to have occurred in Spain this year, following a January derailment that killed 43 people.
