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At least 68 people died in the collision between two trains this morning near Toledo. This was reported by several Spanish media including the newspaper El Pais and the RTVE television. About eighty people were injured, 50 of them seriously. Spanish regional authorities have warned that the number is likely to rise further. “We are talking about around 64 (deaths), but it is likely that the number will increase further,” Emiliano Garcìa-Page, president of the central region of Castile-La Mancha, told journalists on site, updating the previous toll of 31 victims. Rescuers continue to search for bodies with the help of trained dogs.
Spanish authorities indicated a third Italian citizen was missing due to the accident. The situation of the compatriots involved is therefore as follows: 5 passengers were recovered in stable conditions from the 2 trains involved in the accident. A sixth is hospitalized in a Toledo hospital; another 3 are considered “missing”. The Spanish authorities have begun carrying out operations to identify the bodies.
The Farnesina writes this in a note. In particular, for the train operated by Renfe, contacts with the authorities continue to acquire the complete list of passengers and verify the possible presence of other Italians: during the night the authorities will continue to update their lists. At the request of Minister Tajani, a team from the Consulate General will continue to visit area hospitals and survivor collection centers to acquire further information and provide assistance. For reports or requests for assistance, you can contact the Crisis Unit of the Farnesina on +39 06 36225 and the Consulate General of Italy in Madrid on the emergency number +34 629 842 287.
“There are many injured and dead and the Civil Guard is recovering the bodies from the train”: this is the testimony of one of the witnesses on board one of the trains involved in the collision between a Renfe convoy and one of the Iryo company in the province of Toledo, on the high-speed line between Madrid and Seville, in Andalusia, on the Cadena Ser radio. Another passenger, on the same broadcaster, reported that, at the time of the accident, “there was an abrupt braking and some people were catapulted flying into the corridors” of one of the trains involved. According to the testimony, “it is proving difficult to recover many bodies, because they are under the remains” of one of the two carriages that derailed and fell into an embankment and “there are injured people in the train with an amputated arm”, waiting to be rescued by the emergency services.
The civil protection protocol was activated for the serious accident, with numerous fire brigade teams and ambulances from the health services converging on the accident area from Los Yebenes and Urda, in the province of Toledo. According to government sources cited by Catena Ser, the accident is defined as serious and the mayors and hospitals in the province of Toledo have been alerted to alert the emergency services, even if at the moment no injuries or victims have been confirmed.
According to an initial reconstruction from the Madrid railway control center reported by the media, a Renfe train would have hit the Iryo convoy which was stopped on the high-speed line for reasons currently under investigation
“I am dismayed by the serious train accident in Toledo. I remain in constant contact with the Minister of Transport Oscar Puente and the President of Castile La Mancha. The emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure safety, in coordination with all the administrations involved.” This is the message posted on The prime minister has suspended all appointments on the agenda, as has the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, who canceled the commitments scheduled today in the pre-election campaign for the November 29 elections.