Two trains collided on Wednesday morning in Spain, just south of the capital Madrid.
The railway operator Adif indicates that the incident occurred between a Renfe train and another from the Iryo company, which operates the Madrid-Seville connection.
So far, at least 60 people are confirmed dead in this incident, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Here's what we know so far about the accident.
Where and when did the accident take place?
The two trains collided shortly after 9:00 a.m. (8:00 GMT) between the towns of Mora and Orgaz, and about 140 km (100 miles) south of Madrid.
The accident occurred when a high-speed train traveling from Madrid to the south of the country collided with another apparently stationary train. Under the shock, at least two wagons rolled down an embankment.
The RTVE channel, citing the Ministry of Transport, indicated that a Renfe train had hit an Iryo train from behind.
Renfe is Spain's state-owned national railway company, while Iryo is a private high-speed rail operator.
End of Most read
Rail traffic on this line is completely interrupted at stations along the route, Adif said.
Renfe has announced that connections between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia remain suspended.
A passenger on one of the trains told local media that a violent collision occurred about 40 minutes after departure.
What caused the accident?
Photo credit, EPA
The cause has not been confirmed, but reports from Spain suggest a high-speed train crashed into another train that had stopped on the tracks.
How many passengers were on board?
Photo credit, Getty Images
Verified information at your fingertips
Click here and subscribe!
End of WhatsApp Promotion
It is estimated that more than 500 people were on board the two trains.
Esther Padilla, a government spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha region, told TVE that one of the trains - run by the Iryo company - was carrying 146 passengers plus a baby, while the train run by Renfe had 397 passengers on board.
A former government minister is also among those missing.
The Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) published on X that Fátima Báñez, who heads the organization's foundation, was on board one of the trains involved in the accident.
Local leader Emiliano García-Page, president of Castile-La Mancha, said “at least 30” people are now confirmed to have died.
Speaking separately to Spanish media, he warned the death toll could rise further.
According to authorities, 80 people are currently being treated for injuries, 50 of whom are believed to be in serious condition.
How did the authorities react?
Photo credit, Europa Press via AP
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was “shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo”.
“I remain in permanent contact with the Minister of Transport and with the President of Castile-La Mancha,” Sánchez said on X, adding that emergency services were working on the ground “to help those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the administrations concerned.”
“All my affection, solidarity and support go to the victims and their families. »
Sánchez and other Spanish politicians canceled all public engagements on Wednesday, including their campaign for next month's legislative elections.
The Spanish royal family posted a message on X saying they were "shocked and concerned" by the accident and offered their condolences to the victims' relatives and those affected by the collision.
An EU spokesperson said the bloc was ready to help Spain if necessary.
A major rescue effort is underway, with firefighters and helicopters on site.
The Spanish news agency reported that hospitals in the region suspended scheduled surgeries amid the influx of patients following the accident.
A blood transfusion center in Madrid has also launched an appeal for urgent donations. In a message published on X, the Centro de Transfusión indicated that it had made this request “in the face of a possible sudden increase in care needs”.
It was reported that facilities in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan canceled surgeries due to the arrival of accident victims.
This is the second high-speed rail accident in Spain this year.
In January, a high-speed train derailed in southern Spain, its rear carriages falling into the path of a train from the national company Renfe, killing 46 people.
We used AI to help translate this article, originally written in English. A BBC journalist checked the translation before publication. Learn more about how we use AI.
Discover more
Look!
End of Look!
