A tragedy on rail as no fewer than 10 persons have been killed after two trains collided south of Madrid, a regional official has said.
The spokesperson for the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha region Esther Padilla told local television the death toll could potentially rise
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he is “shocked by the serious train accident” and is in constant contact with the transport minister.
“I remain in constant contact with the Minister of Transport, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha,” Sánchez said 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.
Operator of the rail, Adif said the tragic incident happened between a Renfe train and another of the Iryo company, which covers the Madrid to Seville route
A spokesperson for the Spanish emergency services told.AFP “all resources are currently being deployed” including “several fire crews, three helicopters, and two mobile intensive care units”
For Spanish citizens, this rail crash near Urda has brought 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.
