On Wednesday, Spanish media reported that at least 50 people were killed and 179 others injured in a collision between two high-speed trains on the railway line linking Madrid with the southern region of Andalusia.

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The accident occurred at around 8:54 a.m. local time near Urda station in the province of Toledo, about 120 km south of Madrid. The collision involved a train operated by state-owned railway company Renfe and another operated by private company Iryo.

Preliminary reports suggested that the Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo train, which had reportedly been stationary on the tracks. Two carriages derailed and plunged down an embankment.

The Chinese Embassy in Spain has confirmed that four Chinese nationals were aboard the trains involved in the collision, with at least one sustaining minor injury.

The text reads, “Shocking | A new high-speed rail tragedy has plunged Spain into mourning, leaving approximately 46 dead and more than 179 injured. A Renfe AVE train, traveling at over 100 km/h, collided with a stationary Iryo train in Urda (Toledo) after emergency systems failed to activate. Preliminary findings indicate that the LZB signaling system malfunctioned 24 minutes earlier, forcing the trains into a “degraded mode” (requiring operation by sight). As is often the case, the Socialist government has pointed to human error at the Atocha control center. This marks the second fatal high-speed rail accident this year; the previous one occurred in Adamuz.”

Spanish railway infrastructure operator Adif confirmed that the accident prompted the suspension of rail services between Madrid and Andalusia.

Political parties across Spain cancelled scheduled activities on Wednesday, while officials expressed their condolences and support for those affected.

“Shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media, adding that emergency services are on the ground to assist those impacted.

The collision came just nine months after another major railway accident near Adamuz, in the southern province of Cordoba, which killed 46 people.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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