Major emergency response as two high-speed trains collide in Spain

BREAKING

The incident took place in Toledo province, between the towns of Los Yébenes and Urda, at approximately 9am local time, according to Spanish newspaper El País. 

The report said two carriages came off the tracks and fell down an embankment.

The trains were travelling in opposite directions when the collision occurred. One was an AVE service running from Madrid to Seville, while the other was operated by Iryo, the newspaper reported.

The rail operator confirmed that the entire Madrid-Andalusia high-speed route had been suspended following what it described as a rear-end collision. 

In a post on X, it announced the interruption but did not release further information about how the crash happened.

“Traffic on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed rail line has been suspended following ‌a rear-end ⁠collision between two trains,” Adif wrote.

According to TVE's La 1, the two trains were carrying a combined total of 544 people, with 397 passengers on the AVE service and another 147, including a baby, aboard the Iryo train.

Government representatives at both national and regional level in Castilla-La Mancha have confirmed 46 deaths so far, but say the full scale of the tragedy remains unclear.

This is a developing story. More updates to follow.