At Least 64 Dead in Spain Train Collision

A collision between a Renfe high-speed train and a stationary Iryo train near Urda in Toledo province killed at least 64 people on Wednesday, October 28, as rescue teams searched the wreckage and authorities warned the toll could rise. The Renfe train struck the rear of the Iryo service, which had stopped on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Two carriages were reported derailed. Castilla-La Mancha regional authorities said 58 injured people had been taken to hospital, including 15 in critical condition. The casualty figures remained provisional as recovery operations continued. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer malfunction had stopped trains on a stretch of track by disabling a safety system. He said central control then authorized the Renfe train to resume moving while a stop signal remained active. Puente described the decision as inexplicable, but said he was not assigning responsibility. The supplied accounts do not establish the full cause or an independent investigation’s findings. Regional spokesperson Esther Padilla said 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe train and 147 on the Iryo train. Iryo said it had activated its security protocols and was cooperating...