In brief
On 28 October 2026 a Renfe high‑speed train slammed into a stationary Iryo carriage near Urda, Toledo, killing at least 68 people and injuring around 80. Investigators indicate that a computer fault and a control‑center decision to override a red signal may have allowed the collision. Two South Korean nationals were among the injured, one suffering minor wounds and the other hospitalized.
A high‑speed train operated by Spain’s state railway Renfe struck the rear of a stationary Iryo carriage on the Madrid‑Seville line near Urda, Toledo province, on 28 October 2026, derailing two cars and killing at least 68 people while injuring about 80. The collision occurred on a 40‑mile stretch of track where both trains carried more than 500 passengers.
According to the Spanish Transport Ministry, the crash happened when a computer fault paused six moving trains, including the two that collided, and the control centre at Adif instructed the Renfe train to resume movement without a speed restriction, despite a red signal still on the track. This decision is described as “inexplicable” by the transport minister Oscar Puente.
"The control centre decided to allow the Renfe train to move again without speed restrictions, despite a remaining red light," declared transport minister Oscar Puente.
In the immediate aftermath the Spanish health minister, Monika Garcia, reported that injured passengers were being transferred to several hospitals in the surrounding area. The regional government of Castilla‑La Mancha estimated that about 50 of the injuries were serious and 15 critical, with the possibility that some of the severely wounded would not survive.
International observers noted that the incident was regarded as one of the deadliest rail disasters in Spain’s recent history. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene and declared a three‑day period of national mourning from 29 to 31 October, urging that the investigation be thorough and transparent.
"What is unacceptable for a country like Spain is to suffer two train accidents in the same year," said Sanchez.
Among the casualties were two South Korean nationals, confirmed by the Seoul foreign ministry. One passenger sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. A total of 11 Korean passengers were listed aboard the involved trains as of early Thursday morning. A separate report hinted that two Japanese nationals might also have been aboard, although further confirmation is pending.
Spanish trade union CSIF demanded the resignation of transport minister Puente after his remarks, claiming that he was scapegoating a “hard‑working person” and that prolonged working hours at Adif might have contributed to the error.
"We demand that the Government respect the investigation and the presumption of innocence for the head of traffic at Adif," said the union.
The emergency response involved more than 200 members of the Military Emergencies Unit, police, firefighters, and medical teams. Forensic specialists combed through the wreckage of the derailed carriages, while investigators reviewed passenger manifests to ascertain the full scope of the disaster. Rail service between Madrid and Seville was temporarily suspended, with Renfe offering an alternate route for affected passengers.
International condolences poured in from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the global shock at the tragedy. Domestic media have highlighted the incident’s precedence as the second major fatal high‑speed train crash in Spain in 2026, prompting calls for stricter safety protocols across the national rail network.
At least 68 deaths have been confirmed, with additional victims’ identities still being processed. The full extent of injuries remains under assessment as authorities continue to search the wreckage for survivors and to determine whether system failures or human error ultimately triggered the crash.
