Spain train service reportedly restarted before communications system recovered

MBC's crash bulletin links the rear-end collision to a mistaken restart decision and reports at least 68 deaths.

Channel: MBCNEWS ·

South KoreaStory of October 29, 2026Trari Newsroom

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[속보] 스페인 고속열차 2대 추돌.."최소 68명 사망" 희생자 늘어날 듯.."한국인 2명 경상" - [MBC뉴스속보] MBC뉴스 2026년 10월 29일

A decision to restart trains before a failed communications system had recovered preceded Spain's deadly high-speed rail collision, according to South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC News).

The bulletin reports that a Renfe AVE train struck a stationary Iryo train from behind near Urda, in Toledo province south of Madrid. It says a computer communications failure had initially halted services, but permission to resume operations was mistakenly given while the system remained down. That account describes a reported sequence of events, not a completed investigation's findings.

The collision occurred around nine on the morning of October 28 on the high-speed route connecting Madrid with southern Andalusia. Renfe is Spain's state-owned train operator; Iryo is a private high-speed operator.

MBC reports at least 68 people dead and around a hundred injured, including 15 in critical condition. Roughly 540 people were aboard the two trains. The bulletin warns that the death toll could rise.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised a thorough investigation and said any negligence would be uncovered, according to the report.

For its South Korean audience, the bulletin also carries a consular update: the Foreign Ministry said ten South Korean nationals were aboard the trains, and two received hospital treatment for minor injuries. That count differs from the six injured South Koreans cited in an earlier report; the reason for the discrepancy is not clear.