Two High-Speed Trains Collide in Spain, Killing At Least Ten

A high-speed train struck the rear of a stationary train in central Spain on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people.

The collision occurred in the province of Toledo, according to the state rail operator ADIF. Authorities confirmed that two cars were derailed in the impact. Rail service was suspended along the line connecting Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia.

Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the Castilla La Mancha region, stated that the death toll is confirmed at ten but noted that the number will surely rise. She explained that two trains traveling from Madrid to Seville were involved. One train, operated by the state-owned RENFE, hit the tail of a stopped train operated by the private company IRYO.

Padilla reported that 397 passengers were aboard the RENFE train and 147 were on the IRYO service. The cause of the crash remained unknown at the time of the report. The regional president, Emiliano García-Page, said he was traveling to the crash site.

Manuel Galán, the mayor of the nearby town of Urda, told state broadcaster TVE that civil protection authorities requested his town hall prepare a local sports pavilion to treat injured passengers. This incident follows a deadly crash in January involving the same two operators, where 45 people died in southern Spain.

The January crash was the deadliest in the country since 2013, when 80 people were killed. The recent collision has renewed scrutiny of Spain's high-speed rail network.