Lucrezia Ciotti Nine Italians were involved in the train disaster in Spain , where the collision between two high-speed trains near Toledo resulted in at least 68 deaths and over 180 injuries. Five Italians were rescued in stable condition, one is hospitalized, while three women, including one from the province of Pistoia, remain missing.
Meanwhile, investigators are investigating the possible causes of the accident, with the hypothesis of human error linked to a failure of the safety systems.
Train collision near Toledo, suspected to be a safety system error
The tragedy occurred around 8.54am , when a train of the state-owned Renfe company collided with a train of the Iryo company, also owned by FS International, which was stopped on the tracks.
The impact caused four trains to derail , two of which plunged down a slope, complicating rescue operations. Throughout the night, hundreds of workers worked among the wreckage, searching for any survivors. Drones equipped with thermal sensors and special equipment were also deployed to remove damaged parts of the trains, while the Guardia Civil began investigations to precisely reconstruct the collision.
Among the hypotheses being examined by investigators is human error linked to a malfunction in the signaling and communications systems . According to an initial reconstruction, a failure compromised the automatic safety procedures, which should have prevented trains from continuing in hazardous conditions. One train was then authorized to resume normal speed despite the presence of the other train still stationary on the line.
Reinforcing doubts about rail traffic management are three audio recordings released by the newspaper El País and the public broadcaster TVE, which allegedly document conversations between train drivers and the Atocha control center in the minutes preceding the accident. The conversations reportedly indicated that trains were resuming normal speed, despite the difficulties reported by the driver of the Iryo train with the automatic LZB system. The circumstances and any responsibilities remain to be determined through the Spanish authorities' investigations.
Train accident in Spain, nine Italians involved; three women missing
At least 68 people were killed and over 180 injured in the serious train accident that occurred on Wednesday, October 28, in the province of Toledo, Spain. The death toll remains provisional, while rescue operations and the search for the missing continue in the Urda area, along the Madrid-Seville high-speed line. Nine Italian citizens were among those involved : three women are still missing, while six Italians have been located. According to information released by the Foreign Ministry, five of them were rescued in stable condition, and a sixth was hospitalized in a local hospital.
Among the missing Italians is a woman originally from the province of Pistoia , who lives permanently in Spain. The news was also confirmed by sources in the Tuscany Region. Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Region, Bernard Dika, expressed his sympathy to the woman and her family on social media, emphasizing his concern for those still unaccounted for. As reported by Fanpage , the other identified Italians are from the provinces of Sassari, Bergamo, Rome, and Cosenza and are registered with the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad (AIRE).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Antonio Tajani, is following developments through the Italian Embassy and Consulate General in Madrid. A consular team has been assigned to reach hospitals and survivors' reception centers to provide assistance and gather further information. No further identifying details have been released for the three missing women at this time.