Summary

  • Dozens of people are feared dead after a Spanish high-speed train collided with another train south of the capital Madrid - what we know so far

  • More than 500 passengers were travelling on the trains involved, and an initial death toll of 10 "will almost certainly rise", the spokesperson for the regional government says

  • Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says he is "shocked by the serious train accident" and is in constant contact with the transport minister

  • Rail operator Adif says the incident occurred between a Renfe train and another of the Iryo company, which covers the Madrid to Seville route

  • "It was a catastrophe" - a 17-year-old, who was travelling on one of the trains, tells a Spanish broadcaster there was "chaos" at the scene

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  1. Spanish royals pays tribute to victims and emergency workerspublished at 12:00 GMT

    Spanish King Felipe VI (C), Queen Letizia (2-R), Princess Leonor (2-L) and Infanta Sofia (R) during their visit to the village of Llanes, Asturias, Spain, 24 October 2026.Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    The Spanish Royal Family during a visit to Asturias in north-west Spain last week.

    Spain's royal family say they are "moved and concerned" by the train accident in Urda.

    "We share in the sorrow of the families and loved ones of the deceased," they say in a statement on X.

    "Our support also goes to the emergency teams and all those working in the area to help as much as possible under these circumstances."

  2. Most parties pause general election campaign following tragedypublished at 11:54 GMT

    Sergi Forcada Freixas
    in Madrid

    Most political parties in Spain have cancelled their campaign events scheduled for today.

    Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and members of his government have cancelled their public engagements and are said to be closely monitoring the situation.

    The leader of the opposition, conservative Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and most other candidates standing in the general election on 29 November have done the same.

    The exception is the far-right party Vox. Its leader, Santiago Abascal, said Vox would not take part in what he described as attempts to “use mourning to silence criticism” of the country’s rail infrastructure.

  3. BBC Verify

    Verified video shows emergency services at work at crash sitepublished at 11:44 GMT

    By Thomas Copeland, Merlyn Thomas and Sherie Ryder

    BBC Verify has been analysing the latest footage of the train crash which is being shared on social media.

    One video we’ve verified shows the carriages from one of the trains overturned onto the embankment next to the track.

    The first carriage appears to have been significantly damaged, with debris littering the ground around it.

    Another video shows multiple emergency service vehicles and rescue workers in high-vis jackets at the same location.

    Several people are visible under blankets on the grass and in the foreground we can see man holding up an IV bag next to one of them.

    A still frame of a video taken next to the crash site, which shows emergency workers in the middle ground and overturned carriages in the background.
  4. Aerial images show scale of emergency responsepublished at 11:38 GMT

    Drone images released by Spain's Civil Guard demonstrate the size of the emergency effort and crash site.

    There are dozens of vehicles surrounding the trains and derailed carriages, with helicopters, ambulances and patients on the ground.

    An aerial shot of the two derailed trains with dozens of vehicles surrounding themImage source, EPA
    An aerial shot of the two derailed trains with dozens of vehicles surrounding themImage source, EPA
  5. Local blood banks appeal for donations after crashpublished at 11:31 GMT

    A blood transfusion centre in Madrid is appealing for "urgent" donations following the train crash south of the capital.

    Centro de Transfusión requested the donations "in the face of a possible sudden increase in care needs" in a post on X earlier this morning, external.

    The Toledo Blood Bank is also appealing for donations following the crash, according to Spanish media.

  6. Local hospitals suspend planned surgeries to care for victimspublished at 11:18 GMT

    Hospitals in the area have suspended planned surgeries as they deal with an influx of patients from the crash, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

    It reported that facilities in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan have cancelled procedures as casualties from the crash begin to arrive.

  7. Everything we know so far about the deadly Spanish rail crashpublished at 11:17 GMT

    The situation at the crash site in Spain is developing quickly. Here is what we know so far:

    • The death toll near Urda, south of Madrid, has risen to "a minimum" of 30, regional government sources tell Spanish media
    • More than500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved
    • It is feared the death toll could increase further, while images from the scene show some carriages derailed
    • Eduarda, 17, tells broadcaster Cadena Ser it was "chaos" and "a lot of people couldn't get out"
    • The cause has not been confirmed, though reports in Spain suggest a high-speed train hit another train which had stopped on the tracks
    • A huge emergency response is under way, involving several fire crews and helicopters
    • Trains services in the area have been suspended
  8. At least 30 deaths confirmed by regional government - reportspublished at 11:15 GMT

    At least 30 people have died in the high-speed train crash, multiple outlets have reported the Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirming.

    The figure has been reported by news agencies AFP and Reuters, and local media El Pais.

    It comes as emergency crews continue to carry out rescue and recovery operations at the scene

  9. Collision may have been caused by moving train hitting a stationary onepublished at 10:55 GMT

    Although no official account has been shared yet, reports suggest the cause of the collision is that a high-speed train crashed into another one, which was stationary due to an issue on the tracks.

    A Renfe train rear-ended an Iryo train, causing two carriages of the latter to derail, broadcaster RTVE said, quoting the transport ministry.

  10. Crowds of travellers wait for information after rail services suspendedpublished at 10:53 GMT

    Train operator Renfe says services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia remain suspended.

    Images show people waiting at the Sevilla Santa Justa train station, in the country's south, waiting for more information.

    Crowds of people stand or sit at Sevilla Santa Justa train station with bags and suitcases near them following the collision between two trains south of MadridImage source, Reuters
    Three women gather around a phone at Sevilla Santa Justa train station amid delays and cancellations following the collisionImage source, Reuters
  11. BBC Verify

    Footage from scene shows carriages and debris scattered across trackspublished at 10:45 GMT

    Footage from the scene shows multiple carriages off the tracks, with debris scattered widely.

    The mobile phone footage shows the end of one carriage appears to have been torn away by the force of the collision.

    People are seen standing in the wreckage.

    Media caption,

    Overturned train carriages seen by Madrid tracks

  12. Dozens feared dead in high-speed crashpublished at 10:40 GMT

    Paul Kirby
    Europe digital editor

    The death toll in this morning's high-speed rail crash near Urda south of Madrid has risen to "a minimum" of 30, regional government sources have told Spain's Efe news agency.

    Officials in Castilla-La Mancha say 147 passengers were on a train run by private operator Iryo and 397 people were on the high-speed train.

    So far, they say they cannot confirm that the high-speed train went into the back of the Iryo train when it had stopped.

    There are fears that the number of casualties could be even higher, and sources have told Spanish media that the disaster could be "worse than Adamuz" last January, when 46 people died.

    A map that shows the approximate location of the train crash, near a town called Urda, south of Madrid.
  13. Concerns number of casualties could be much higherpublished at 10:35 GMT

    Guy Hedgecoe
    BBC News in Madrid

    An emergency helicopter in the foreground of a train collision in Spain.Image source, EPA

    Two trains have collided in Spain causing at least 10 deaths, although there are concerns that the true number of casualties could be much higher (some reports are putting the death toll at 46).

    The crash took place near the town of Urda, around 140 km (100 miles) south of Madrid.

    Emergency services are at the scene helping those injured and looking for survivors.

    The accident happened when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to the south of the country collided with another train that was apparently stationary. The crash caused at least two carriages to fall down an embankment.

    A passenger on board one of the trains told local media there was a heavy impact about 40 minutes into the journey.

    Firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel are at the scene, along with three helicopters.

    According to reports, the government believes that human error linked to signalling is a likely cause of the crash.

    The national rail operator Renfe has set up a help line for relatives of those who were on board the trains.

    And Parliament has cancelled events for the day. Prime minister Pedro Sánchez posted on social media that he was “upset” at the news and offered his solidarity and support to those hurt and their families.

    In January, a collision between two trains on the same route killed 46 people.

  14. 'It was a catastrophe,' train passenger, 17, tells broadcasterpublished at 10:27 GMT

    A 17-year-old girl named Eduarda, who was travelling on one of the trains, tells broadcaster Cadena Ser that there was "chaos" at the scene and that she saw casualties under the trains.

    "A lot of people couldn't get out. I heard screams... It was horrific," she says.

    "It was a catastrophe... I could hear people screaming in panic."

  15. 'Major tragedy' and fears that casualties will risepublished at 10:23 GMT

    Paul Kirby
    Europe digital editor

    Health Minister Mónica García has told Spanish radio that the images from the scene of the crash show there has been a "significant impact [that] points to a major tragedy".

    Some of the casualties have been taken for treatment at a health in Urda not far from the crash, and Spanish TV reports that those needing hospital treatment will be taken to the city of Toledo to the north.

    Meanwhile, there are fears the number of casualties will rise.

    The mayor of Los Yébenes, not far from Urda, says he's spoken to local police about what they have seen. Jesús Pérez said they had described "truly nightmarish scenes".

  16. Images show overturned train carriages following collisionpublished at 10:09 GMT

    We're now receiving images from the scene of the collision.

    Emergency workers can be seen at the site of the crash, where train carriages have overturned and toppled down the embankment.

    Several people are reported to have died.

    Train carriages turned over on a steep embankment.Image source, EPA
    Derailed and overturned carriages.Image source, EPA
    Emergency workers standing on a roadside.Image source, EPA
  17. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the trains involved in the crashpublished at 10:07 GMT

    Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the government of Castilla-La Mancha region, tella TVE that one of the trains - managed by the Iryo company - was carrying 146 passengers plus one baby, while the Renfe-managed train had 397 passengers on board.

    "The number of confirmed deaths, currently at 10, will almost certainly rise," she said. "The situation is going to worsen."

  18. Another tragedy on Spain's high-speed rail networkpublished at 09:56 GMT

    Paul Kirby
    Europe digital editor

    Wrecked and overturned rail carriages.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    The Adamuz collision was Spain’s worst rail tragedy since 2013

    For Spaniards, this rail crash near Urda brings back very painful memories.

    It was only last January when a high-speed train derailed in southern Spain, and its rear carriages went into the path of a state-run Renfe train, claiming the lives of 46 people.

    The Adamuz collision was Spain’s worst rail tragedy since 2013 and cast doubts on safety on the country’s prized high-speed rail network.

    This latest disaster is further south but again it involves a Renfe train and another run by private operator Iryo.

    The circumstances are very different as at Adamuz there was a fracture on the track, while at Urda there appears to have been a failure involving safety mechanisms.

    But again, there are new concerns about safety on Spain’s railways.

  19. Spanish PM Sánchez 'shocked' by the rail collisionpublished at 09:47 GMT

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, an older man with short greying hair wearing a blue sweater.Image source, Reuters

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says he is "shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo".

    "I remain in constant contact with the Minister of Transport, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha," Sánchezsaid on X, adding that emergency services were working on the ground “to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the involved administrations".

    “My affection, solidarity, and support to all the victims and their families.”

    Sánchez and other Spanish politicians have cancelled all public engagements today, including campaigning for next month’s parliamentary elections.

  20. What we know so far of the deadly rail collision in Spainpublished at 09:42 GMT

    Two high-speed trains have collided in Spain just after 09:00 (08:00 GMT) between municipalities Mora and Orgaz, just south of Madrid. Here’s what we know so far:

    • A least 10 people are dead, regional government spokesperson for the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha region Esther Padilla has told local television.
    • Padilla has told Castilla-La Mancha Media the deaths could potentially increase
    • Rail operator Adif says the incident occurred between a Renfe train and another of the Iryo company, which covers the Madrid to Seville route
    • All trains on this line have been stopped at stations along the route, Adif says on X
    • Mayor of the nearby town of Urda, Manuel Galan, has also told Spanish public broadcaster TVE “there are people injured”
    • A spokesperson for the Spanish emergency services has told AFP “all resources are currently being deployed” including “several fire crews, three helicopters, and two mobile intensive care units”