This story updates Awaaz Punjab's earlier report, in which the provisional toll stood at 46 on Civil Protection sourcing. Spanish media now report the toll at at least 50, with about 179 injured; the higher figure has not yet been officially confirmed. Read the previous update
Urda, Toledo: At least 50 people have been reported killed and 179 injured in Wednesday's collision between a Renfe AVE and an Iryo high-speed train near Urda in Toledo province, according to Spanish media reports cited by The Times of India and reported by LatestLY. SFG Media reported that the death toll had risen to 50, saying the updated figures were released by the civil protection authorities.
Source: LatestLY (Times of India / Spanish media reporting)
The exact toll is still not official. ABC, citing Civil Protection, reported at least 46 dead and later at least 50, while Renfe sources told the EFE agency that 46 people had died and public broadcaster RTVE put the toll at more than 40, according to a running summary of the Spanish coverage. Regional government spokesperson Esther Padilla spoke of around fifty deaths — a figure she stressed is not yet official — and warned the numbers would continue to rise, Evangelical Focus reported, adding that Civil Protection put the injured at around 180.
Source: Today News Brief (summary of EFE, Europa Press, ABC and RTVE reporting)
The driver of the AVE train remains unaccounted for, while a trainee railway worker who had gone missing after the crash has been confirmed dead, The Times of India reported. The collision happened at 8:54am local time, when the Renfe AVE struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line; two Iryo carriages left the tracks and fell down an embankment. The two trains carried 544 passengers in total — 397 on the Renfe service and 147 on the Iryo train, including a baby.
Source: LatestLY (Times of India reporting)
El Pais: AVE was wrongly ordered to move on after signalling failure
According to El Pais, the AVE was wrongly ordered to move on after a signalling failure, Today News Brief reported. Other early accounts reported by Spanish media point to a possible human error linked to the Atocha control centre. These remain reported lines of inquiry, not established findings: Adif has not identified the cause of the crash, and investigators have yet to determine why the Iryo train had stopped and why the following service was able to approach it.
Source: Today News Brief (El Pais reporting)
Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) has deployed 100 personnel to support the rescue, and the Spanish football federation cancelled the day's Copa del Rey matches, while Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled a scheduled appearance in Vitoria, Osna reported, citing El Espanol. High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia remain suspended.
Source: Osna (El Espanol reporting)
What is solid
- Two high-speed trains — a Renfe AVE and an Iryo service — collided near Urda in Toledo province at about 8:54am local time on Wednesday, and two Iryo carriages derailed down an embankment (Adif, regional government).
- The two trains carried 544 passengers in total — 397 on the Renfe service and 147 on the Iryo service (regional government).
- High-speed services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended after the crash (Adif).
- About 179-180 people were injured, as reported by Spanish media citing Civil Protection.
What is only claimed
- The exact death toll: ABC, citing Civil Protection, later reported at least 50 dead and regional spokesperson Esther Padilla spoke of around fifty deaths, but she stressed the figure is not yet official; Renfe sources told EFE the toll was 46 and the regional government's own confirmed figures have been lower at each stage.
- The cause: El Pais reports the AVE was wrongly ordered to move on after a signalling failure and other accounts suggest possible human error at the Atocha control centre — these are early reported lines of inquiry, and no official cause has been determined.