By Paul Joseph
At least 30 people have been reported dead following a collision involving two high-speed trains near Urda, south of Madrid, Spain, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
More than 500 passengers were aboard the two trains involved in the crash, which occurred on Tuesday morning, according to the BBC.
Regional government sources told Spanish media that fatalities had risen to at least 30, while emergency responders continued efforts to rescue survivors and assist the injured.
The trains involved were operated by Spain’s state-owned rail company, Renfe, and private operator Iryo, which runs services on the Madrid-to-Seville route.
Preliminary media reports suggested that a Renfe train struck the rear of an Iryo train that had stopped on the tracks. However, authorities had not officially established the circumstances leading to the collision.
The impact sent several carriages off the tracks, with some reportedly tumbling down an embankment. Images from the scene showed overturned coaches, scattered debris and emergency personnel working amid the wreckage.
Firefighters, paramedics and helicopter teams were deployed to the scene to rescue victims and transport injured passengers to medical facilities.
Hospitals in the Castilla-La Mancha region, including facilities in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan, reportedly suspended scheduled surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.
A 17-year-old passenger, identified as Eduarda, described the incident as chaotic and horrific while speaking to Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser.
She said some passengers struggled to escape and recalled hearing people screaming in panic.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was shocked by the accident and remained in contact with the transport minister and the president of Castilla-La Mancha.
He also expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, while emergency services continued rescue and recovery efforts.
Although the exact cause of the collision remained unconfirmed, Spanish media reports pointed to the possibility that one train struck another that had stopped on the tracks.
Rail services linking Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia were suspended following the crash, leaving passengers stranded at stations as authorities worked to assess the situation.
The incident has renewed concerns about railway safety in Spain, following a separate collision near Adamuz in January that killed 46 people.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as rescue operations progress and investigators work to establish the cause of the latest crash.
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