At least 68 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain, prompting an investigation into a decision that allowed one train to resume its journey following a technical failure.
The collision occurred near Urda, in the Castilla-La Mancha region south of Madrid, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The updated death toll makes it Spain’s deadliest rail disaster since 2013.
The accident involved a train operated by private rail company Iryo and a Renfe high-speed service. Iryo said its train was struck from behind by the Renfe train. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two services.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer-related failure had disrupted the railway’s automatic safety system, forcing several trains to stop. The central control centre subsequently authorised the Renfe train to resume normal operations while the Iryo train remained stationary further along the track.
Puente described the decision as “inexplicable”, saying investigators were examining why the train was allowed to continue without the appropriate safety restrictions. The precise circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where witnesses described scenes of devastation, with damaged carriages, injured passengers and people trapped among the wreckage.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site and said the country was grieving. He pledged that authorities would establish what caused the tragedy and provide support to victims and their families.
