69 dead after two high-speed trains collide in central Spain

At least 69 people died when two high-speed trains collided in central Spain on Wednesday. The accident left 180 others injured, with 110 of those victims transported to hospitals for treatment.

This marks the second high-speed rail disaster to occur in Spain within the last twelve months. In January, 46 people died after one train jumped the tracks and struck the side of another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction in the country's south.

Until this year, the network had not experienced a deadly crash since it began operations more than three decades ago. The system is the second largest in the world, trailing only China.

César Vicente, an actor, traveled 495 kilometers, or 307 miles, from Seville to Toledo on Thursday. He was searching for his father, who had been seated in 13A on the RENFE train that struck an Iryo service.

Vicente spent the night at a religious center that had been converted into a base for families affected by the disaster. He said, “I have my father, and I don’t know where he is. I hope to find him, oh my Lord.”

The actor was joined by his mother and his aunt. The group walked outside on a chilly morning, braving the cold while waiting for information. Vicente described the situation as “hell” and “unbearable.”

Relatives and friends posted desperate appeals on social media platforms. They shared photos and details about clothing and seat numbers for missing passengers who had been traveling to Seville.

Alejandra Marroquín posted on Instagram that her sister Adriana, who was wearing dark blue clothes, had been in car 8 of the RENFE train. Marroquín said, “We’re still praying, we don’t know anything,” as search teams using sniffer dogs continued their work.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters on Thursday that the government was working to assist victims' families and strengthen security. He stated the goal was to ensure the tragedy “never happens again.”

The collision occurred in the Castilla-La Mancha region, turning life upside down in Urda, a town of approximately 2,500 people south of Madrid. Residents rushed to assist the injured and prepared food for unharmed passengers.

David Gómez, a construction worker, was near the site with his brother and a colleague when they heard the crash. They cut through fences to reach the area and treated victims with first-aid kits until emergency services arrived. Gómez noted that people were trying to exit through the windows.

Authorities issued a call for blood donations in response to the high number of injuries. More than 2,000 people in Castilla-La Mancha volunteered in the aftermath of the crash. Emiliano García-Page, the region's president, thanked the 1,300 emergency service personnel who were mobilized and cited an all-time record number of blood donations.