Deadly high‑speed train collision near Madrid kills 68

At least 68 people were killed when a Spanish high‑speed train collided with another train south of Madrid, making it the country’s worst rail disaster since 2013. The crash occurred near Urda, where more than 500 passengers were aboard the two trains. Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente said a computer failure halted six trains, including the two involved, and that the control centre later allowed them to move again without speed limits – a decision he called "inexplicable." Iryo, the operator of one train, said its train was struck from behind by a Renfe service. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the whole of Spain is grieving and that major parties have paused election campaigning while he pledged to uncover the cause. Protesters gathered outside the transport ministry and a large trade union demanded Puente’s resignation. Witnesses described terrible scenes; journalist Roberto Gómez called the aftermath "extremely chaotic and very distressing," and a survivor recalled suitcases flying and people screaming. Emergency crews worked through the night, using powerful lights, drones and cranes to clear tilted carriages and recover victims. Forensic teams in Toledo began identifying the dead as families waited.

Context

High‑speed rail forms a backbone of Spain’s transport network, and collisions of this magnitude are rare. The 2013 derailment that killed 80 people remains the last incident of similar severity.