69 dead as Spain high-speed trains collide

At least 69 people died after two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday, with authorities reporting 180 total injuries. More than 24 hours after the crash, relatives of missing passengers continued searching for their loved ones in Toledo. The collision involved a RENFE train and an Iryo train, with the latter having stopped on the tracks when the impact occurred.

César Vicente, an actor from Seville, traveled 495 kilometers to Toledo to look for his father, who was seated in 13A on the RENFE train. He spent the night at a religious center converted into a base for affected families. "I have my father, and I don’t know where he is. I hope to find him, oh my Lord," Vicente said. He described the situation as "hell" and "unbearable."

Relatives posted appeals on social media, describing clothing and seat numbers to help identify missing passengers. Alejandra Marroquín reported that her sister Adriana was in car 8 of the RENFE train wearing dark blue clothes. "We’re still praying, we don’t know anything," Marroquín said Thursday morning as search teams using sniffer dogs continued their work.

This incident marks the second high-speed rail disaster in Spain this year. In January, 46 people died after a train derailed and struck another in southern Spain. Spain’s high-speed network, the world’s second-largest after China’s, had not experienced a deadly crash in over three decades until this year.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Toledo University Hospital for more than an hour to see injured passengers. The king stated that the nation had suffered a devastating blow but must move forward with dignity and resolve. "Let us move forward in their memory. Let us do so together, united," he said.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters Thursday morning that the government was working to support families, investigate the tragedy, and strengthen security. He emphasized the need to shed light on the event to prevent recurrence.

In the nearby town of Urda, residents with a population of about 2,500 rushed to assist. David Gómez, a construction worker, described cutting through fences to reach the tracks and treating injured people with first-aid kits until emergency services arrived. Residents also prepared food and transported unharmed passengers to a local sports pavilion.

Authorities issued a call for blood donations, with 110 of the injured taken to hospitals. In the Castilla-La Mancha region, more than 2,000 people volunteered. Regional president Emiliano García-Page cited an all-time record in donations and thanked the 1,300 emergency personnel mobilized for the response.