Spain's train-crash toll rises to 69 — and the minister calls the control-room order 'inexplicable'

What happened

At least 69 people were killed and dozens more injured after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, according to regional authorities, cited in reports. The toll rose from 68 after another body was recovered overnight, according to reports citing the Associated Press, and 57 people remained in hospital on Thursday, according to Reuters. The collision happened at about 8:54 a.m. local time near Urda and Los Yébenes in Toledo province, about 150 kilometres south of Madrid, on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line.

A Renfe AVE service travelling from Madrid to Seville struck the rear of an Iryo train that had stopped on the tracks, reports said, citing rail infrastructure manager Adif and Spain's public broadcaster RTVE. Several carriages derailed, with at least two plunging down an embankment. More than 500 passengers were aboard the two trains: Renfe's train carried 397 passengers, while Iryo said its train carried 147 passengers and five crew members. Officials warned the toll could still rise.

Among the dead was former labour minister Fátima Báñez, Reuters reported. Spain's Foreign Ministry said 42 foreign citizens from seven countries were involved in the crash, of whom one was killed and at least seven injured, according to reports.

'Inexplicable' — the minister's account

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer malfunction had disrupted a safety system along a 63-kilometre stretch of railway, causing trains in the area to stop, reports said. He said a central control centre subsequently instructed the Renfe train to resume movement without speed restrictions, despite a stop signal remaining active.

Puente described the decision as "inexplicable" and the situation as "truly unbelievable," according to reports of his remarks. Audio published by El País and TVE, reported on Thursday, captures the control centre clearing the AVE driver to restart at normal speed even though the Iryo train remained ahead at a red signal, according to reports of the recordings. A person briefed on the disaster had earlier told Reuters the Iryo train stopped near Toledo on instructions from infrastructure manager Adif because of a signal fault — that account is unconfirmed, and investigators have not established the full circumstances. The trains' black boxes have been recovered and are being examined, reports said.

Investigation sealed off

The investigating judge has barred outsiders from a 2-kilometre stretch of the Madrid–Seville line in both directions around the crash site and ordered the proceedings kept secret while investigators secure evidence, reports said. Toledo Judicial Police will take custody of the recovered black boxes for analysis. Only state security forces, judicial staff and rescue and medical teams may remain in the zone, and removing items or photographing the area is prohibited.

Three days of mourning

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site and announced three days of official mourning, Oct. 29 to 31, saying, "Today all of Spain is grieving," and promising a full investigation. Assistance centres were set up for passengers and their relatives, and high-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended.

The disaster is Spain's worst rail crash since 2013, when 80 people were killed after a train derailed in northwestern Spain. It is also the second major railway accident in Spain this year: a collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province in January killed 46 people and injured more than 150, according to published reports. With a national election four weeks away, Sánchez said it was "not acceptable for a country like Spain to endure two high-speed train accidents in the same year."

What it means for travellers

The Madrid–Seville line is one of Spain's busiest corridors, popular with tourists and commuters, and its suspension disrupts travel across the south of the country. For Canadians travelling in Spain, the practical consequence is cancelled and rerouted services while the line stays closed and the investigation continues; no information has been reported about Canadian nationals among the victims.