A high-speed train collision south of Madrid in Spain killed at least 68 people and injured scores of people on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) , with the death toll expected to rise, authorities said.
Indian Embassy in Madrid has opened an emergency helpline for its nationals after the accident — one of Europe’s deadliest rail disasters this century.
The Indian Embassy in Madrid advised Indian nationals who were travelling on the affected trains, as well as their family members, to contact the mission for immediate assistance. In an advisory posted on its official X account, the Embassy urged people to share details of its emergency helpline with anyone requiring support. The accident involved a Renfe AVE service and an Iryo train travelling from Madrid to Seville.
The embassy issued the emergency helpline number +34 650 339 008, the email [email protected], and Renfe: 900 10 10 20, and Iryo: 900 001 403. The impact caused the rear coaches of the Iryo train to derail and plunge down an embankment near kilometre marker 118.
The second major rail accident to hit Spain in 2026 is likely to renew scrutiny of the country’s railway safety systems, with Transport Minister Óscar Puente referring to an “error” and “inexplicable circumstances” that preceded the crash.
The latest accident could pose a significant political challenge for the Sánchez government ahead of Spain’s national election on November 29, with the Prime Minister already facing a difficult re-election battle. Mr. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised a comprehensive investigation into the crash, describing it as the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than a decade.
Puente said preliminary assessments suggested a possible technical failure at the Atocha control centre involving the LZB safety system, though he stressed that the exact cause remained under investigation.
