In brief
A collision between a Renfe AVE train and a stationary Iryo carriage on the Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line near Urda killed at least 68 people and injured around 80. Two South Korean nationals suffered injuries; one was discharged with minor wounds, the other remains in hospital. Spanish authorities are investigating a computer‑controlled failure that allowed the moving train to depart.
Two South Korean nationals were among the passengers injured when a high‑speed train collision near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province claimed at least 68 lives on Oct. 28, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.
The crash, which occurred early on Wednesday on the Madrid‑Seville line, involved an AVE train operated by Renfe that struck the rear of a stationary Iryo carriage, derailing two cars and sending a number of passengers into hospitals. The death toll has been reported as 68 by Al Jazeera, UPI, and the Associated Press, while the Associated Press and Reuters refer to 69 bodies recovered.
Korea foreign ministry
Our embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties.
The ministry said one of the injured South Koreans sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized.
Spanish investigators focus on a computer‑controlled error that allowed the Renfe train to move despite a red signal and a stalled yard ahead. UPI reports that a rail control center cleared the train to proceed without speed restrictions, while Kyodo attributes the mishap to a “clear and inexplicable” error in the system. Al Jazeera and other outlets note that signalling failures may also have played a role, and the investigation remains underway.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning from Oct. 29 to 31, following the collision. Similar statements appear in Al Jazeera, UPI, and WAM, all noting that Spain is in mourning as officials call for a thorough inquiry into the incident.
