Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, told national broadcaster TVE that the death toll would likely rise. Both trains traveled in the same direction before one rear-ended a stationary train. The violent impact derailed two passenger carriages.
By the afternoon of October 28, regional authorities confirmed the death toll reached 30.
(The accident forced rail operators to suspend all high-speed train services between Madrid and Andalusia)
The collision involved an AVE high-speed train traveling from Madrid to Seville. Operated by state rail company Renfe, the train carried 397 passengers. The second train was operated by private operator Iryo with 147 passengers on board.
Emergency rescue teams deployed immediately to the scene. Regional firefighters, three medical helicopters, and two mobile intensive care units arrived promptly.
Urda Mayor Manuel Galan confirmed that local authorities prepared a municipal sports arena to receive victims. On social platform X, Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida stated that the capital dispatched emergency medical squads and firefighters to assist.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed deep shock over the disaster. He remains in close contact with Transport Minister Oscar Puente and regional leader Emiliano Garcia-Page. Meanwhile, rail infrastructure agency ADIF halted all high-speed rail operations between Madrid and Andalusia. The Civil Guard deployed a specialized disaster investigation team to the site, and the formal cause remains under investigation.
Internationally, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the Italian consulate in Madrid is verifying whether any Italian citizens were among the casualties, offering full assistance.
The tragedy raises urgent alarms over rail safety across Spain. The incident follows a derailment and crash in southern Spain nine months earlier that killed 45 people. In 2013, another major rail catastrophe in the country claimed 80 lives.
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