by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
MADRID (Worthy News) – Dozens of people were reportedly killed, and many others injured Wednesday when two high-speed trains collided south of Spain’s capital, Madrid, in one of the country’s deadliest recent railway disasters.
Spanish media reported at least 39 deaths, citing emergency services in the Castilla-La Mancha region, while other reports suggested an even higher toll. Authorities had not yet issued a consolidated final casualty figure.
The collision occurred Wednesday morning near Urda in Toledo province, involving trains operated by Spain’s state-owned Renfe and private rail company Iryo. At least two carriages derailed and fell down an embankment.
Video footage reviewed by Worthy News showed twisted metal, shattered panels and debris scattered along the railway embankment, with what appeared to be the mangled remains of a train carriage lying beside the tracks. The footage, apparently filmed through a train window, also showed extensive damage amid a haze hanging over the wreckage.
Eyewitnesses described a violent impact, with passengers reportedly thrown from their seats and others struggling to escape damaged carriages.
EMERGENCY RESCUE OPERATION
Firefighters, civil protection teams, three medical helicopters and two mobile intensive-care units were dispatched to the scene as rescuers worked to reach injured passengers.
Manuel Galán, mayor of nearby Urda, said emergency services had asked his town to prepare a sports hall to accommodate people affected by the disaster.
Rail infrastructure operator Adif suspended high-speed services between Madrid and the southern Andalusia region, while Renfe offered ticket changes and cancellations to affected passengers.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock and solidarity with victims and their families as authorities coordinated the emergency response.
Preliminary information from transport ministry sources suggested that a Renfe train struck the rear of an Iryo train. Investigators had not established the cause of the collision.
The disaster follows another deadly high-speed rail crash in southern Spain in January that killed 45 people, raising renewed concerns about railway safety in the European Union nation.
(This is a developing story in Europe; stay with Worthy News for more coverage.)
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