A high‑speed train operated by Renfe struck the rear of a stationary train near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday, derailing two carriages and killing at least 68 people while injuring many, the Spanish government said. The crash involved an AVE service traveling from Madrid to Seville and an Iryo private‑sector train that had stopped on the same track. Spanish officials described the collision as an “inconvenient tragedy” that prompted an immediate investigation into signalling and possible negligence.
According to the Korea foreign ministry, two South Korean passengers were among the injured. Of the 11 Korean nationals confirmed aboard either train, one sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. The ministry said its embassy in Spain was “maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties.”
Emergency services en‑route to the scene early on Wednesday mobilized more than 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit. The town of Los Yebenes has supplied food and basic necessities to residents affected by the accident. Esthe Padilla, a spokeswoman for the Castilla‑La Mancha regional government, told Spanish public broadcaster TVE that the trains were traveling in the same direction when the moving train struck the static one, causing two carriages to derail.
Spokesperson of the regional government, Emiliano Garcia‑Page, said approximately 80 passengers were injured, with about 50 suffering serious injuries and 15 in critical condition. Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia reported that the injured were being transported to several hospitals in the area. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, addressing the national audience from Urda, announced a three‑day period of official mourning from October 29 to 31.
“Spain is in mourning,” he said. “We will get to the bottom of this, and if there was negligence, it will be revealed, and if there were system failures, there will be a strong response.”He added that “what is unacceptable for a country like Spain is to suffer two train accidents in the same year,” noting that the causes of the two crashes appeared unrelated.
Investigators are examining the signalling system on the high‑speed line, as well as any mechanical or operational failures that might have led to the rear‑end impact. The Renfe operator confirmed that the moving train was traveling at high speed at the time of impact, but details about the exact trigger remain unclear. Early reports suggest possible signalling malfunctions, but no official conclusion has yet been reached.
While the Korean foreign ministry has clarified the status of its nationals, details about the exact number of total injuries are still fluid. Spanish officials are conducting a comprehensive investigation that may consider systemic safety concerns, and independent witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with emergency crews working for hours to rescue survivors and secure the wreckage.
Until the investigation concludes, the cause of the collision remains uncertain. Whether signalling failures, operational negligence, or an unforeseen mechanical issue precipitated the crash has not yet been determined, and both the Korean foreign ministry and Spanish authorities have indicated that further information will be disclosed as it becomes available. The unresolved questions surrounding the trigger and responsibility for the tragedy remain the focal point for both governments and their citizens.
