Saudi leaders send condolences to Spain after deadly train collision

A high-speed train collision south of Madrid on Wednesday claimed 64 lives and injured over 100, making it one of Europe's deadliest such disasters this century, authorities reported. The Renfe high-speed train, bound for southern Spain, collided with an Iryo train from a private company, the latter confirming the latter's train had been struck from behind.

The incident, which occurred between Urda and Los Yebenes in Toledo province, left a trail of wreckage as one train was embedded into another, with some carriages lying on their sides at the bottom of an embankment.

Initial estimates put the death toll at 64, but this figure is expected to rise, with 58 injured individuals admitted to hospitals and 15 in critical condition. Emergency services, including helicopters and a funeral parlour, responded to the scene amid a frantic search for survivors. Families and officials from across Spain and Europe expressed shock and solidarity, with Spain's Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez set to visit the site, marking the occasion a day before his early general election.

The accident is the second involving high-speed trains in Spain this year, following a January incident that left 46 dead, reigniting concerns over railway safety. The Spanish high-speed rail network, the world's second-largest after China, has seen significant investment and marked national pride, but these recent accidents have raised questions about the safety of Spain's railway system, particularly on the Madrid to Seville line.