In brief
A collision between a Renfe AVE train and a stationary Iryo carriage on the Madrid‑Seville line near Urda left 68 dead and dozens injured. Two South Korean nationals sustained injuries, with one discharged and the other still hospitalized. Spanish officials declared three days of mourning while international leaders expressed sympathy.
On October 28, a high‑speed train collision near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province killed at least 68 people and left two South Korean nationals injured, the Korean foreign ministry confirmed, prompting investigations and mourning across the country.
According to Yonhap, the accident involved a Renfe AVE train traveling from Madrid to Seville that struck the rear of a stationary Iryo carriage, derailing two carriages. The Korean authorities reported 11 South Korean passengers aboard the trains; one suffered minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. The Korean embassy in Spain said it was staying in close contact with local authorities to monitor any further casualties.
Al Jazeera described the crash as occurring early on Wednesday on the high‑speed line that links the capital with Seville. It reported that about 80 passengers were injured, with around 50 serious cases and 15 critical, and cited the statements of regional government officials and the mayor of Los Yebenes about supply efforts for affected residents. The outlet quoted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who declared three days of official mourning, saying:
Spain is in mourning, 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. What is unacceptable for a country like Spain is to suffer two train accidents in the same year.
Pedro Sánchez added that the causes of the two crashes appeared unrelated. The same source reported that about 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit were working at the site.
United Press International also reported the collision between the two high‑speed trains on the Madrid‑Seville route, noting that roughly 100 people were injured. UPI quoted Sanchez, who said, “Today the whole of Spain is grieving. Lives have been shattered, families have been torn apart, the pain is immense.” It detailed that King Felipe VI expressed shared sorrow and that Renfe had suspended rail service between Madrid and Andalusia while crews searched the wreckage. The report mentioned that Transport Minister Oscar Puente warned that a computer failure had caused six moving trains to pause, then un‑restrained a Renfe train, leading to the collision.
Kyodo News focused on the possibility of two Japanese nationals aboard the trains, noting that foreign ministry officials had found their names in the passenger lists. The outlet repeated that a rail control center had instructed a train to depart despite a red signal, calling the decision an “inexplicable error.” It highlighted that the crash had occurred on the Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line and occurred early Wednesday near Urda station.
Beyond Spain, international leaders expressed condolences. The United Arab Emirates sent messages from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to King Felipe VI, the families of the victims, and the Spanish public, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also sent a cable of sympathy to the king, offering condolences and wishing a swift recovery for the wounded.
Russia’s BTA reported that no Bulgarian nationals were injured, while the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reiterated condolences and solidarity with Spain. The report noted the confirmed death toll reached at least 64, with 80 people injured, and mentioned the ongoing search efforts for any additional victims trapped in the wreckage.
Spanish authorities are investigating signalling failures, possible negligence, and system errors that may have led to the crash. The incident has prompted calls for stronger safety measures and accountability from transport officials, as reflected in the statements of transport minister Oscar Puente and the union CSIF demanding clearer attribution of responsibility. The national mourning period, declared by Prime Minister Sanchez, is intended to show unity and support for the families affected by one of the country’s worst rail disasters.
