Spain Train Collision: Death Toll Rises to 64, More Than 100 Injured

A high-speed train collision in central Spain has killed at least 64 people and injured more than 100 others, according to authorities, with fears that the death toll could rise further. The crash occurred on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, south of Madrid, in one of Europe’s deadliest rail disasters in recent decades.

Images from the scene in Castilla-La Mancha showed a Renfe AVE train and an Iryo train severely damaged, with some carriages overturned and embedded in one another. Several carriages were also seen lying at the bottom of an embankment as emergency workers rushed to rescue survivors and recover victims.

Castilla-La Mancha regional leader Emiliano García-Page said the death toll had reached approximately 64 and could increase. A spokeswoman for the regional government said more than 100 people were injured, including 58 who had been taken to hospital. Fifteen of those hospitalised were reportedly in critical condition.

Spain’s state railway operator, Renfe, confirmed that high-speed services connecting Madrid with southern Spain had been suspended following the collision. Private rail company Iryo said its train was carrying 147 passengers and five staff members, including the driver, when it was struck from behind by the Renfe service.

A resident of nearby Urda, Manuel Ortiz, told AFP that he had spent the morning transporting survivors in his car. He said passengers on the Iryo train told him their train had been stationary when the collision occurred. Emergency teams continued working at the scene while investigators examined the railway tracks.

The accident has renewed scrutiny of rail safety in Spain, whose high-speed network has expanded significantly through years of investment. The latest collision follows another deadly train disaster near Adamuz in January, which reportedly killed 46 people and raised questions about railway safety. Both incidents occurred on the line connecting Madrid with Seville.

The cause of Wednesday’s collision remained unknown at the time of the report. Investigators were examining the tracks at the crash site, but authorities had not announced a definitive explanation for how the two trains collided.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was shocked by the disaster and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. Spain’s royal household and European Union officials also conveyed condolences, while the Spanish football federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches as a mark of respect.

The collision has become a major national tragedy, with rescue operations, casualty assessments and investigations continuing. Authorities are expected to face mounting pressure to establish what happened and determine whether any safety failures contributed to the disaster.