In brief
A high‑speed train operated by Spain’s Renfe struck a stationary Iryo carriage near Urda, killing at least 68 people and injuring dozens. The Korean foreign ministry confirmed two South Korean passengers were injured, one discharged after minor wounds, the other still hospitalized. Spanish officials say a failed rail‑control computer and a red‑signal violation may have allowed the accident.
The collision between two high‑speed trains on the Madrid‑Seville line near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, killed at least 68 people and left dozens more hurt. The resulting wreckage included the rear of an Iryo train, which was stationary on the track, and a Renfe AVE that slammed into it from behind.
The Korean foreign ministry said it had confirmed that 11 South Korean passengers were aboard the two trains, and that two of them were among the injured. One passenger suffered only superficial wounds and was released from hospital after treatment, while the other remains in a Spanish facility.
The collision involved a Renfe high‑speed train travelling from Madrid to Seville and an Iryo carriage that had stopped on the same line. The impact derailed two carriages and caused them to roll down an embankment. The incident triggered an emergency response that included more than 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit and a full‑scale search for survivors.
Spanish transport minister Oscar Puente stated that a rail‑control computer had initially halted six moving trains on a 40‑mile stretch of track, but the control centre approved the Renfe train’s movement without a speed limit and while a red signal remained active. He called the decision a "computational error" that allowed the collision to occur.
"We have a computer failure that initially paused the trains, but the control centre decided to let the Renfe train continue without speed restrictions, despite the red light," said Oscar Puente during a press briefing. The comments, reported by UPI and Al Jazeera, prompted protests against his handling of the incident.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a three‑day period of national mourning on the day of the crash, saying: "Today the whole of Spain is grieving." He urged investigators to uncover whether negligence or system failures were responsible. In an address from Urda, he warned that Spain had suffered two major train accidents in the same year, adding that the causes appeared unrelated.
While the exact cause remains under investigation, several reports point to a signal‑failure and a violation of safety protocols as probable triggers. Al Jazeera and UPI both noted that the control centre had permitted the Renfe train to depart at full speed after a red signal had been in effect for the Iryo train.
International reaction included condolences from the United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who all sent messages to Spanish King Felipe VI expressing sympathy for the victims. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also provided a cable of condolences to the Spanish monarch and the Spanish people.
In addition to Korean casualties, the Japanese foreign ministry said it halted its search for two Japanese nationals whose passenger lists appeared on the trains, but no confirmation has yet been made. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reported that no Bulgarians were injured in the crash and that it was monitoring the situation from Valencia.
The crash comes weeks before Spain’s general election, sparking criticism from opposition figures who cite the government’s safety oversight failures. Journalist Graham Keeley, reporting from Spain, highlighted the timing, noting that it "comes at an awful time" for the government as it faces impending elections.
Rail service between Madrid and Seville has been suspended, with Renfe announcing that all high‑speed services on the affected line would remain out of operation until the wreckage has been cleared and investigations complete. The incident is being monitored by the national rail company and regional authorities, who are working to secure the site and assist the injured.
