What we know about Spain train crash
- Published
Two high-speed trains have collided in Spain just south of the capital Madrid on Wednesday morning.
Rail operator Adif says the incident occurred between a Renfe train and another of the Iryo company, which covers the Madrid to Seville route
So far at least 30 people are confirmed to have died in the incident with casualty numbers expected to rise.
Here is what we know about the crash so far:
Where and when did the crash happen?
The two trains collided just after 09:00 (08:00 GMT) between municipalities Mora and Orgaz, and about 140km (100 miles) south of Madrid.
The accident happened when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to the south of the country collided with another train that was apparently stationary. The crash caused at least two carriages to fall down an embankment.
Broadcaster RTVE, quoting the transport ministry, said a Renfe train rear-ended an Iryo train.
Renfe is Spain's national state-owned railway company while Iryo is a private high-speed railway operator.
All train traffic on this line has been stopped at stations along the route, Adif said.
What caused the crash?
Authorities have not confirmed an official cause of the crash, but local media has reported that human error linked to signalling could be a likely cause of the incident.
How many passengers were on board
More than 500 people were believed to be on board both trains.
Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the government of Castilla-La Mancha region, told TVE that one of the trains - managed by the Iryo company - was carrying 146 passengers plus one baby, while the Renfe-managed train had 397 passengers on board.
She also said that 10 people have been confirmed dead and that the casualty figure "will almost certainly rise".
How have the authorities responded?
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was "shocked by the serious train accident in Toledo".
"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 on Wednesday, including campaigning for next month's parliamentary elections.
This is the second high-speed rail tragedy in Spain this year.
In January a high-speed train derailed in southern Spain, its rear carriages going into the path of a state-run Renfe train, claiming the lives of 46 people.