At least 30 dead in crash between two trains in central Spain

A high-speed train collided with the rear of another train that had come to a halt, derailing two cars and resulting in at least 30 fatalities in central Spain on Wednesday, according to local media. Initially, Spanish authorities reported 10 deaths, but Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the Castilla La Mancha region, indicated that figure would undoubtedly increase.

Later reports from Spanish state-owned news agency EFE and other media sources confirmed the death toll had risen to at least 30. This incident marks the second major train accident in Spain this year. The crash occurred in the province of Toledo on Wednesday morning, suspending rail service between Madrid, Ciudad Real, and Andalusia.

Padilla informed state broadcaster TVE that the accident involved two high-speed trains traveling in the same direction from Madrid to Seville, with one train running into the tail of the other that had come to a stop, causing two of its cars to derail. The cause of the crash remains unknown. The collision took place in a flat stretch of land surrounded by fields.