Breaking: Two Australians dead after high-speed train crash in Spain

On October 28, 2026, two high-speed trains collided near Mora and Orgaz in Toledo province, central Spain, resulting in at least 39 deaths initially reported by The Independent on October 28, which later increased to 69 identified victims, including two Australians, as confirmed by Spanish authorities on November 3. The crash occurred around 9 AM local time when a Renfe and an Iryo train traveling from Madrid to Seville collided; one train hit the rear of another that had stopped due to unclear reasons. Emergency services were called to the scene where carriages derailed, and 10 injured passengers were treated at a sports pavilion prepared by the mayor of Urda, Manuel Galán, as instructed by civil protection authorities.

Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, faced criticism for his handling of the disaster, with some attributing it to human error. On November 3, he addressed lawmakers amidst discussions about implementing emergency measures such as speed limits when relying on driver vision due to signal system failures.