At least 39 people are killed as two high-speed trains collide in Spain and carriages plunge down an embankment
Mangled wreckage on its side after two high-speed trains collided in Toledo province, Spain, killing at least 39 people and leaving survivors scrambling clear while passengers remained trapped.Smoke rises from derailed carriages between Los Yébenes and Urda after the crash, which emergency crews feared could surpass the Adamuz disaster, where 46 people died in January.
A RENFE state-owned train slammed into the rear of a stationary IRYO private train near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday morning, derailing two carriages — one of which plunged down an embankment and caught fire. Around 544 passengers were aboard the two Madrid-to-Seville services when the collision occurred, and regional spokeswoman Esther Padilla warned 'the situation is going to worsen.' Spanish Health Minister Mónica García called it 'a high-speed impact' and said 'we are expecting this to be a tragedy.' The collision could reportedly surpass January's Adamuz disaster, which killed 46.
Train drivers' unions called the crash 'very strange' given the track's signalling systems were in place.
Spain suffered its deadliest rail crash in a decade at Adamuz just ten months ago — this collision may be WORSE.
