At Least 30 Dead After Two High-Speed Trains Collide South of Madrid

At least 30 people have died after two trains collided south of Madrid on Wednesday morning, according to the head of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government. Authorities have warned the number of casualties is expected to climb.

The crash happened shortly after 09:00 local time (08:00 GMT) between the municipalities of Mora and Orgaz, roughly 140km (100 miles) south of the capital. Rail operator Adif said it involved a train run by the state-owned company Renfe and another operated by Iryo, a private high-speed firm that serves the Madrid to Seville route.

Reports indicate that a high-speed train heading from Madrid toward the south of the country struck another train that appeared to be standing still. Broadcaster RTVE, citing the transport ministry, said the Renfe service hit the Iryo service from behind. At least two carriages left the track and fell down an embankment. One passenger told local media that a heavy impact was felt about 40 minutes into the journey.

The cause has not been confirmed. More than 500 people are believed to have been on board. Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha government, told TVE that the Iryo train carried 146 passengers and one baby, while the Renfe train carried 397 passengers.

Emiliano García-Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha, said "at least 30" people were confirmed dead and cautioned in separate remarks to Spanish media that the toll could rise further.

A large emergency operation is under way, with fire crews and helicopters at the scene. Adif said all train traffic on the line has been halted at stations along the route, and Renfe said services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia remain suspended.

Hospitals in the area have suspended planned surgeries to cope with the arrival of injured people, Spanish news agencies reported. A blood transfusion centre in Madrid issued an "urgent" appeal for donations, citing a possible sudden rise in demand for care. It said facilities in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan had cancelled procedures as casualties began to arrive.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on X that he was "shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo" and was in constant contact with the transport minister and the Castilla-La Mancha president. He offered "affection, solidarity, and support to all the victims and their families." Sánchez and other politicians cancelled all public engagements on Wednesday, including campaigning for next month's parliamentary elections. Spain's royal family said it was "shocked and concerned" and sent condolences, while an EU spokesperson said the bloc stood ready to help if needed.

The collision is the second high-speed rail tragedy in Spain this year. In January, a high-speed train derailed in the south of the country and its rear carriages moved into the path of a Renfe train, killing 46 people.