Accident in Toledo: passengers recount moments of terror

A railway accident that occurred this Wednesday, October 28, in Urda, Toledo province, left scenes of desperation among the passengers of two high-speed trains that collided on the Madrid-Seville line, with a provisional toll of at least 64 dead and 58 injured.

One of the survivors recounted the moments of anguish she experienced when the train braked sharply, causing several people to be thrown from their seats and suitcases to be scattered throughout the interior of the carriage.

“The man next to me was thrown,” said the woman, who explained that the braking lasted for several seconds before the passengers began to move violently through the carriage.

The testimony reflects the confusion experienced by the passengers during the incident, the causes of which are still being investigated by the Spanish authorities.

Accident left passengers out of their seats

The woman described how the force of the sudden braking caught those traveling on the train by surprise, without giving them enough time to react.

According to their account, some passengers were thrown from their seats while personal items and luggage moved through the carriage.

Other survivors offered similar testimonies to the EFE agency.

Fernando, one of the passengers traveling to Seville, explained that during the crash he felt objects flying around him and experienced a sensation of being suspended in the air.

The man recounted that, after managing to get off the train, he headed along with other passengers toward the front, where he observed significant damage.

There they tried to provide help to the affected people.

Fernando stated that he was shocked when observing the injured and the deceased, although he highlighted that the emergency services arrived relatively quickly.

Survivors escaped through the windows

Another passenger interviewed by EFE explained that, before the accident, the train had braked and subsequently resumed its journey.

Shortly after, the occupants perceived the derailment.

The survivor recounted that several passengers had to break a window of the carriage to manage to get out.

Despite the severity of the accident, he indicated that he had not suffered any physical injuries.

The testimonies collected show the difficulties that some travelers faced in leaving the trains after the collision.

Two trains collided near Urda station

The accident occurred at approximately 8:54 in the morning, near the Urda station, in the Spanish province of Toledo.

According to information published by EFE, an AVE train from Renfe and another from the company Iryo were involved in the accident.

Both were traveling on the high-speed railway line that connects Madrid with Seville.

The Iryo train was carrying 147 passengers, including a baby, while the Renfe AVE was carrying 397 people.

After the collision, several carriages fell down an embankment, which complicated rescue operations.

Emergency teams moved quickly to the scene to assist survivors and locate victims.

Accident leaves at least 64 dead and 58 injured

The president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, reported that the number of deaths rose to 64 people.

According to the balance reported by the regional leader and collected by EFE, 40 of the fatalities were traveling on the Iryo train and another 24 on the Renfe one.

The number of injured people with varying degrees of severity stood at 58.

Authorities warned that the figures could vary as emergency teams continued to inspect the wreckage of the trains.

The search efforts included the participation of specialized units and trained dogs to locate victims.

Investigating the causes of the railway collision

Spain’s railway infrastructure manager, Adif, reported that it is analyzing its systems and the sequence of events that preceded the accident.

The initial hypotheses point to the possibility that the Renfe AVE train rear-ended the Iryo convoy.

However, the authorities have not officially confirmed that version nor have they determined the cause of the crash.

It is also being investigated whether one of the trains was stopped before the collision.

The Ministry of Transport and the competent authorities continue to collect information to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

Neighbors collaborated with the transfer of passengers

After the accident, residents from nearby towns went to the area to assist those affected.

According to EFE, several residents used their private vehicles to transport passengers who were able to walk to the pavilion set up in Urda.

A care point for survivors and people in need of assistance was established at that location.

The emergency response included ambulances, medical helicopters, firefighters, Adif personnel, and members of the Military Emergency Unit.

The Civil Guard also mobilized specialists to participate in the search and identification efforts for victims.

Phone lines enabled for victims’ relatives

Authorities and railway companies have activated support channels for people seeking information about relatives affected by the accident.

The numbers released are:

• Renfe: 900 10 10 20.
• Iryo: 900 001 403.
• Castilla-La Mancha Emergencies: 900 122 112.

As rescue efforts and investigations continue, testimonies from the survivors provide insight into the magnitude of the moments of anguish experienced inside the train cars.