At 5:27 a.m. Wednesday, a high‑speed Renfe train slammed into a stationary Iryo carriage near the town of Urda in Spain’s Toledo province, killing at least 68 people and injuring more than 100 passengers, officials say. Two South Korean nationals were among the injured, with one suffering minor wounds and the other still hospitalized.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the identities of the two passengers. South Korea's Foreign Ministry said:
"One injured passenger sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized."The ministry added that it was monitoring the situation for additional Korean casualties.
Spanish authorities called the crash a “truly unbelievable” accident. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said a computer failure initially paused six moving trains before the Renfe service was authorised to resume without speed restrictions despite a red signal. He described the decision as “inexplicable” but did not admit causation.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spoke from the scene and declared a three‑day national mourning period from 29 to 31 October. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared:
"Today the whole of Spain is grieving."He warned that investigations would uncover any negligence or system failure.
Al Jazeera and UPI reports noted that roughly 80 passengers were injured, about 50 seriously and 15 critically, and that rail services between Madrid and Seville would remain suspended pending clearance. Both outlets cited statements from local government that the crash involved a Renfe AVE train from Madrid to Seville and a private Iryo train at the same line.
Unconfirmed: The exact mechanism that allowed the Renfe train to move through the red signal, and whether a signal or signalling failure triggered the collision. Investigations by the state‑owned rail operator Renfe and the transport agency Adif continue to assess the technical causes.
International condolences, including messages from the UAE and Saudi Arabian leadership, have been offered to King Felipe VI and the Spanish people. The incident has drawn remarks about Spain’s rail safety standards amid a second fatal crash that year.
