A Renfe train hit the back of a stationary Iryo train near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday, killing 69 people, as investigators examined a signaling-system failure and a control-room decision that let one train continue.
The crash happened on the Madrid–Seville line. Both trains were traveling from Madrid toward Seville. Spanish officials said the death toll rose to 69 after another body was found overnight.
On Thursday, 50 people remained in hospital, including 15 in critical care. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer communications failure disrupted the line’s signaling system. He said it stopped several trains before the collision.
Investigators are examining why the control centre authorized the Renfe train to resume its journey. They are also checking whether safeguards were followed. Officials have not announced a definite cause.
The impact threw carriages down a gravel embankment. Rescue teams continued searching the wreckage, while police worked to identify victims. The Spanish government declared three days of mourning beginning Thursday.
The disaster renewed concerns about rail safety after another deadly high-speed crash in Spain earlier this year.