Summary
A collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain killed at least 68 people and injured dozens on Wednesday. Spain’s transport minister said a computer failure stopped one train, then a control centre instructed trains to move without speed restrictions; authorities are investigating the crash.Key Facts
- The crash happened shortly after 09:00 local time, about 140km south of Madrid.
- A Madrid-to-Seville train operated by state-owned Renfe struck an Iryo train that had stopped on the tracks.
- The Iryo train had 147 passengers aboard; the Renfe train carried 397 passengers.
- Several carriages fell down an embankment, and one caught fire.
- Spain’s transport minister said a computer failure was followed by a control centre’s decision to let trains move without speed restrictions.
- Emergency crews sent ambulances and a helicopter to the crash site; the Civil Guard said DNA samples from relatives would be needed to identify some victims.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site and said Spain was grieving.
