At least 30 people were killed on Wednesday when two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province, south of Madrid, regional authorities said.
The collision occurred on a railway line connecting Madrid with Seville, marking the second deadly high-speed rail disaster on the broader Madrid-Andalusia corridor in nine months.
Castilla-La Mancha regional government spokeswoman Esther Padilla said the trains were travelling in the same direction when one struck the rear of another that had stopped, derailing two carriages.
The collision involved a Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid to Seville and another service operated by private railway company Iryo.
Authorities said 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train and 147 aboard the Iryo service.
The regional government raised the confirmed death toll from 10 to 30, having previously warned that fatalities could increase.
Officials also reported injuries but did not immediately provide further details.
Footage showed twisted metal, damaged panels and debris scattered down an embankment, with one carriage remaining on an elevated section of track.
Emergency responders deployed firefighters, three medical helicopters and two mobile intensive care units.
Nearby Urda was asked to prepare a sports pavilion for affected passengers, while Madrid dispatched additional emergency personnel.
The cause of Wednesday’s collision remained unclear as Spain’s Civil Guard deployed a specialist disaster investigation team.
Rail infrastructure operator ADIF suspended high-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed solidarity with victims and their families and said he remained in contact with transport and regional officials.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy’s consulate in Madrid was checking whether Italian nationals were affected.
The disaster follows January’s collision near Adamuz in Cordoba province, when a derailed train struck an oncoming service, killing at least 45 people.
That accident prompted debate over railway maintenance investment, placing renewed attention on safety along Spain’s high-speed network.