At least 68 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain's Toledo province on Wednesday morning. The crash occurred at around 8:54 a.m. local time near Urda on the high-speed railway linking Madrid with southern Spain. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue searching the wreckage.

A state-owned Renfe AVE train crashed into the rear of a stationary high-speed train operated by private company Iryo. Several carriages derailed and plunged down an embankment, leaving a large area of wreckage around the tracks.

544 Passengers Were on the Two Trains

Castilla-La Mancha regional government spokeswoman Esther Padilla said 147 people were travelling on the Iryo train, including a baby. Another 397 passengers were aboard the Renfe AVE service.

That means a total of 544 passengers were on the two trains when the collision occurred.

Emergency crews immediately launched a large-scale rescue operation. Helicopters, ambulances, firefighters and other emergency personnel were sent to the scene, while hospitals in the surrounding area prepared to receive injured passengers.

Survivor Describes Horrific Scene

A passenger travelling on the Iryo train described being thrown forward by the force of the impact. After getting off the train, the passenger climbed down an embankment to reach a safer area.

The survivor said parts of the train were hanging down the slope and that one carriage was on fire. The passenger also said they saw dead bodies at the scene.

Los Yébenes mayor Jesús Pérez Martín described the situation as extremely serious, with reports of severe injuries and amputations among the victims.

Health Minister Urges Blood Donations

Spain's Health Minister Mónica García appealed to people to donate blood as hospitals prepared to treat the large number of casualties.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock and solidarity with the victims and their families on social media. He also cancelled scheduled engagements following news of the disaster.

Second Major Crash on the Same Line in Nine Months

Wednesday's collision came only nine months after another deadly crash involving Renfe and Iryo on the same high-speed rail corridor. That January accident killed 46 people and raised serious questions about railway safety in Spain.

The latest disaster has renewed concerns about the safety and reliability of Spain's high-speed rail network.

Madrid-Andalusia Rail Services Suspended

Following the crash, high-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended. Renfe confirmed that services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and southern Spain were interrupted.

Investigators have begun examining the cause of the collision. Early reports have raised questions about signalling problems and possible human error, but authorities have not yet established a definitive cause.

Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, and officials have warned that the death toll could rise further.