At least 30 people have died and about 80 others have been injured following a collision involving two trains in Spain, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching the wreckage.
Castilla-La Mancha regional president Emiliano García-Page confirmed that 24 people died aboard the AVE train, while six others were killed on the Iryo train.
He said emergency services had yet to reach the most severely affected sections of the wreckage, raising fears that more bodies could be found.
Of those injured, about 30 sustained minor injuries, while 50 others suffered moderate to serious injuries of varying severity.
Regional government spokesperson Esther Padilla said authorities were prioritising medical assistance for all those affected. Most of the injured were being transferred to a hospital in Toledo, while three other hospitals had been placed on high alert to support the emergency response.
A passenger on the Renfe AVE train told Spanish broadcaster RTVE that the train had briefly stopped shortly before the collision and was reportedly told there was heavy traffic in the area.
The passenger said the train resumed its journey before colliding at speed with the other train, causing a violent impact.
King Felipe VI expressed sorrow over the incident and conveyed condolences and support to the victims’ families. He also thanked emergency services for their response.
Meanwhile, far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal continued campaigning ahead of Spain’s parliamentary election scheduled for next month, rejecting calls to suspend political activities. He accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of putting the public at risk and argued that suspending the campaign would silence criticism of the country’s infrastructure.
Emergency teams continued working at the scene as authorities sought to reach the remaining sections of the wreckage and establish the full scale of the tragedy.
