At least 46 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a collision between two high-speed trains in Spain’s Toledo province. Emergency services have warned that the death toll could rise further.
The accident occurred at around 9am on Wednesday, October 28, along the railway route from Madrid towards Andalusia. Rail infrastructure operator Adif said the two trains were travelling in the same direction.
Initial reports indicated that one train collided with the rear of the other, triggering the crash.
The trains involved were a state-owned Renfe AVE service and a train operated by Italian company Iryo. The AVE train was carrying 147 passengers, while the Iryo train had 397 passengers on board. Both trains were travelling from Madrid to Seville, a popular route among tourists and regular commuters.
According to preliminary information, the AVE train struck the rear of the Iryo train, causing two carriages of the Iryo service to derail. The carriages then slid down an embankment beside the railway line in an area between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda in Toledo province, reports said.
Photographs from the scene showed several train carriages lying at the bottom of the embankment, while the other train remained on the tracks. Rescue workers were seen examining the wreckage at the site.
Emergency services in Castilla-La Mancha confirmed that at least 46 people had died and dozens had been injured. Spanish media outlet El Español reported that the number of casualties could increase further.
