Collision of two high-speed trains leaves at least 68 dead in Toledo

At least 68 people died on Wednesday after a head-on collision between two high-speed trains in the province of Toledo, according to CNN, citing reports from the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha. The accident occurred between the towns of Mora, Orgaz and Urda, when a train operated by the state-owned Renfe and another run by the private operator Iryo collided on the route connecting Madrid and Seville.

According to the 112 emergency service of Castilla-La Mancha, which spoke to CNN, the impact occurred when an Iryo train was stopped or traveling at low speed and was struck by the high-speed AVE train. The collision derailed several carriages, and two of them fell down an embankment, prompting the activation of level 2 of the civil protection plan and the mobilization of the Military Emergency Unit (UME).

Each of the trains involved carried approximately 400 passengers at the time of the impact, according to initial estimates from emergency services cited by CNN. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was shocked by the incident, while the Ministry of Transport is examining the reasons that allowed the train to resume its journey despite the presence of the other train on the track.

The temporary and complete suspension of rail service on the high-speed corridor between Madrid and Andalusia disrupts one of the busiest and most important passenger transport arteries in the country, affecting commercial and passenger traffic between central and southern Spain. Authorities set up a shelter in Urda to assist the injured and relatives, while Ecuador's diplomatic mission in Spain is working to determine whether any Ecuadorian citizens are among the victims.