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Spain seeks answers as rail crash toll hits 74

AFP October 30, 2026 Less than a minute read

Rescue personnel work at the site of the collision between two high-speed trains near Toledo, Spain. PHOTO: REUTERS

SPAIN/ TOLEDO:

Spain demanded answers to questions about safety on the country's high-speed rail network on Thursday after the death toll from Wednesdays' crash south of Madrid rose to 74, with scores injured and distraught relatives desperately awaiting news of missing loved-ones.

In Toledo, relatives provided DNA samples to help identify victims. The city received 52 bodies, overwhelming its morgue's capacity and forcing the army to establish a temporary facility. Sniffer dogs and thermal drones searched the crash site near Urda.

The crash occurred when a train operated by state railway company Renfe struck the rear of a stationary train belonging to private operator Iryo. Former labour minister Fatima Banez was among those killed, the country's CEOE business association confirmed.

Spain began three days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast and public events cancelled or scaled back. Train drivers went on strike to demand improved safety, while union leader Diego Martin warned against focusing solely on finding culprits.