Spain Train Collision: Death Toll Rises to 68, Indian Embassy Opens Emergency Helpline

The death toll from a collision involving two high-speed trains in Spain has risen to 68, prompting the Indian Embassy in Madrid to open an emergency helpline and urge Indian nationals who may have been affected by the accident, as well as their relatives, to seek assistance.

In a notice posted on its official X handle, the Embassy of India advised Indian nationals travelling on the trains involved in the accident, or their family members, to contact the mission for assistance. It also urged people to share information about the emergency helpline with anyone who might need support.

The collision occurred on Wednesday morning near Urda station in the province of Toledo, approximately 120 km south of Madrid, on the high-speed railway line connecting Madrid and Seville. The accident was reported at around 8:54 a.m. local time (0754 GMT).

According to regional authorities in Castilla-La Mancha, 58 people have been hospitalised, including 15 in critical condition. Around 50 others with minor injuries are receiving medical attention at temporary treatment centres.

Emergency personnel are continuing search and recovery operations at the site, assisted by specially trained dogs. Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha, warned that the death toll could rise further as rescuers continue to search the wreckage and examine the affected train carriages.

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said a failure in computer communications had disrupted the LZB railway safety control system, automatically bringing trains to a halt along a 63-km section of track.

However, Puente said the railway control centre subsequently authorised a Renfe train to resume its journey despite a red signal prohibiting it from proceeding, even though another train remained stationary on the track. He described the decision as “inexplicable” and identified it as a possible factor in the collision.

The accident involved a Renfe high-speed train and a stationary Iryo train. The impact caused several carriages to derail, with some reportedly plunging down an embankment, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Although the reported failure of the signalling system and the decision to authorise the train's movement have emerged as key areas of scrutiny, the exact cause of the accident has yet to be established.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has declared three days of national mourning for the victims. The government is expected to focus on supporting the injured and the families of those killed while investigators work to establish how the collision occurred.

The Indian Embassy's emergency outreach is intended to help Indian nationals and their families obtain assistance and information amid the ongoing rescue operation and investigation.