At least 30 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Toledo province in central Spain, on the line between Madrid and Seville. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Footage broadcast by the regional channel CMM TV showed a derailed train with at least one carriage remaining on an elevated section of track. Twisted metal, broken panels and wreckage could be seen strewn across an embankment beneath the line.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government said the death toll had risen to 30 from 10 after earlier warnings that it could go up.
Miguel, a passenger travelling with several colleagues in the rear car of one of the trains, described the moment of the accident to Cope radio. "We heard a massive roar, a truly enormous thud that went on for 10 seconds, as if the train were about to derail," he said. "Through the right-hand window, we could see a wrecked train – I imagine it must have been the other one."
Esther Padilla, a spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha region, told the state broadcaster TVE that the collision was between two high-speed trains carrying hundreds of passengers and heading in the same direction from the capital, Madrid, to Seville in the south-west. One ran into the rear of the other, which had stopped, knocking two of its carriages off the track, she said, adding that the cause of the crash was not yet known.
Government sources told El País the crash could be worse than the Adamuz rail disaster in January in which 46 people were killed.
The collision on Wednesday involved a train from Spain's state-owned Renfe company and the private rail company Iryo. It appeared the Renfe train had rammed into the Iryo service, Spanish media reported. Trains from those two companies were also involved in the Adamuz crash.
Manuel Galán, the mayor of Urda near the city of Toledo, said he had been asked by emergency services to prepare a sports hall to accommodate the injured.
The collision occurred on the line between Madrid and Seville.
Spain's main political parties, which are gearing up for next month's general election, suspended their planned activities for the day.
The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his shock at news of the crash. "I remain in constant contact with the transport minister, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha," he said in a post on X. "Emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the involved administrations. My love, solidarity and support to all the victims and their families."
The opposition People's party leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said on X: "Very concerned about the information we are getting about a new rail accident. The priority now is to attend to the victims and support their families. My full support to the emergency teams working on the ground."