Rail Crash: Two High-Speed Trains Collide in Central Spain, Killing at Least 39
The rear-end collision between Los Yébenes and Urda forces the suspension of services on the affected line, marking the second major rail disaster in Spain this year.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Local authorities confirmed on Tuesday that at least 39 people died after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain. The accident occurred shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda in the province of Toledo.
Emergency crews responded immediately, deploying mobile intensive care units and additional medical support to the scene. Witnesses told the newspaper El País that several passengers were injured. Reports indicate that two carriages left the tracks and rolled down an embankment. Officials described the incident as a rear-end collision.
One of the involved services was traveling from Madrid to Seville, according to initial reports. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash or provided further details about the specific services involved. Train services on the affected line have been suspended while emergency personnel continue their work.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the incident in a post on X, stating he was shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo. He said he remained in constant contact with Transport Minister Óscar Puente and the president of Castilla-La Mancha. Sánchez added that emergency services are working on the ground in coordination with all involved administrations to assist those affected and ensure their safety.
This event follows a deadly rail accident earlier this year. On January 18, at least 45 people were killed and 170 others injured when two trains derailed near Adamuz in the southern province of Córdoba. An investigation into that earlier disaster found that a fracture in the rail appeared to have developed before the crash.
The January incident involved an Iryo service traveling from Málaga to Madrid, carrying approximately 300 passengers. After derailing, that train crossed onto the opposite track and struck an oncoming service traveling from Madrid to Huelva, which had around 200 passengers on board. The cause of the latest collision has not yet been established, and further details are expected as emergency services continue their operations at the scene.
