This is a developing story. Casualty figures are still changing.
Spain is mourning after one of the deadliest rail disasters in its recent history.
On Wednesday morning, a Renfe high-speed AVE train crashed into the back of a stopped Iryo train on the Madrid–Seville line in Toledo province, central Spain. The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha says at least 68 people have died, according to AP and RTVE.
What Happened
Renfe says its AVE train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa, which left at 8:00 a.m., was involved in an accident with an Iryo train between Los Yébenes and Urda. RTVE reported that the collision happened at 8:53 a.m. local time. BBC News put it "just after 09:00" and described the location as between the towns of Mora and Orgaz, about 140 km south of Madrid.
Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the regional government, told RTVE that both trains were traveling in the same direction when one hit the rear of the other, derailing two carriages, according to Reuters. Emergency service sources quoted by El País said two carriages of the Iryo train fell down an embankment.
Padilla said there were 397 passengers on the Renfe train and 147 on the Iryo train, according to Reuters. RTVE later cited Adif's count of 378 passengers on the AVE.
The Toll
The number of confirmed deaths has climbed through the day. Early reports differed from outlet to outlet:
- At least 39: local authorities to Sky News, 4:05 a.m. PT
- At least 30: CBS News, 4:48 a.m. PT
- At least 64: Castilla-La Mancha regional government, via Reuters, by about 6:30 a.m. PT
- At least 68: Castilla-La Mancha regional government, via AP, RTVE and CMM, still the latest figure as of 9:19 a.m. PT
In the latest regional government update, president Emiliano García-Page put the number of injured at 77, with 53 seriously and 15 very seriously hurt, according to regional broadcaster CMM. CMM reported that 53 of the injured were taken to hospitals. Earlier counts differed: Reuters reported about 80 injured, and AP reported 58 receiving hospital treatment. García-Page warned that some of the most seriously injured might not survive, according to Reuters.
According to CMM, most of the victims were on the Iryo train: 44 were found on the Iryo train and 24 on the AVE. García-Page said bodies were still being recovered from the Iryo train.
"It was a high-speed impact, so we are expecting this to be a tragedy," Spanish Health Minister Mónica García told TVE, according to Reuters.
What Officials Are Saying About the Cause
The official cause has not been confirmed.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said that at about 8:30 a.m., the LZB train-control system on a 69-kilometer stretch went down after what he called a computer failure, according to RTVE. That automatically stopped all six trains on the stretch. According to Puente, the control center then decided to let trains move again "despite there being a red signal," while the Iryo train was still stopped on the track. He called the conditions of that decision "incomprehensible."
Iryo said its train was "struck from behind" by the Renfe train "due to causes that are still unknown," according to BBC News.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said authorities are focused on investigating the cause. "This kind of tragedy can't keep happening in a country like ours," he said, according to Sky News.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/2115457595309781132
AP noted that the crash came nine months after another deadly collision in southern Spain in January involving high-speed trains from the same two companies.
Service Disruption and Help
Renfe says rail traffic between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia is suspended. The company has activated its crisis team and victims' assistance plan. It has set up a phone line for victims and families: 900 10 10 20.
