Spain has declared three days of national mourning following a high-speed train collision that killed at least 68 people and injured 100 in central Spain on Wednesday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the period of mourning from October 29 to 31, vowing a full investigation into the disaster.The crash occurred at approximately 9:00 AM (08:00 GMT) between the municipalities of Mora and Orgaz, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Madrid. A stationary train, operated by private rail company Iryo and carrying 147 passengers, was struck from behind by another train, operated by Spain’s state-owned railway company Renfe, which had 397 passengers on board.Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that a computer system failure, followed by human error, caused the accident. The Iryo train had stopped due to a computer malfunction, and ADIF, Spain’s state-owned railway infrastructure manager, then made an “inexplicable” decision to instruct the high-speed Renfe train to move forward despite a red light.The force of the collision was described as “brutal” by survivors, with several carriages falling down an embankment. Passengers recounted harrowing scenes of being thrown into the air, trapped in wreckage, and smashing windows to escape. One carriage caught fire, and a long piece of railway track speared through another.Emergency services deployed more than 500 personnel to the crash site, with dozens of ambulances and a helicopter evacuating the seriously injured. Regional authorities reported that 58 people were hospitalized, 15 of whom are in serious condition. Spain’s Civil Guard is collecting DNA samples from relatives to identify some victims, and drones are being used to create a 3D reconstruction of the area to determine the cause.This marks the third train accident in Spain this year, and the second major high-speed rail disaster. In January, more than 40 people died in a collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province, on the same rail line. Prime Minister Sánchez called the recurrence of such incidents “unacceptable” and pledged to address any failures in the security system with the utmost firmness.The Independent Authority for the Technical Investigation of Accidents and Incidents (AITAT), Spain’s body responsible for investigating rail accidents, is leading the inquiry. Meanwhile, a 24-hour nationwide strike by Renfe train drivers on October 29 is expected to reduce high-speed, regional, and passenger services. Rail service between Madrid and Andalusia has been suspended since October 28.International condolences have poured in, with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extending their sympathies to King Felipe VI of Spain, the families of the deceased, and the Spanish people. Six Canadian citizens were among the injured, and one remains missing.The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, and the death toll may rise as rescue teams continue to access damaged carriages. The identity of the missing Canadian citizen is unknown, and the central control center’s decision to allow the Renfe train to proceed despite a red light is a key focus of the inquiry.
Background
- This is the third train accident in Spain this year, and the second major high-speed rail disaster.
- In January 2026, more than 40 people died in a collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province, on the same rail line.
- A few days after the January incident, a passenger train derailed near Barcelona.
- Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that a computer system failure caused security system problems on a 63-kilometer (40-mile) track, automatically stopping all trains in that area.
