The Autonomous Community of Extremadura has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the serious train disaster near Urda in the province of Toledo . The president of Junta de Extremadura, María Guardiola, has decreed that the mourning period will run from 3pm this Wednesday until 3pm on Saturday, 31 October. The decision honours those who died and expresses sympathy to their families and the many injured.
The disaster occurred on Wednesday morning on the Madrid–Andalusia high-speed line. Figures updated in the afternoon put the death toll at at least 64. The figure was reported by regional authorities in Castilla-La Mancha and by Europa Press; it reflects the position as of 28 October. The number of injured remains high, with several people in intensive care.
The regional emergency operations centre in Castilla-La Mancha activated the territorial emergency plan PLATECAM at Operativa 2 level. The Servicio de Emergencias 112 Castilla-La Mancha coordinated the rescue operation at the scene, assisted by firefighters, police, medical teams and the Unidad Militar de Emergencia. Rescue workers evacuated those affected from the damaged train carriages and transferred the seriously injured to hospitals in the region and neighbouring Autonomous Communities.
The rail infrastructure authority Adif and state operator Renfe are also working with the emergency services. Adif reported that the affected section of the Madrid–Andalusia line had been closed, causing major disruption to travel; replacement road transport has been arranged. Renfe issued a statement of condolence and guidance for passengers. Travellers should expect delays and diversions until the line can reopen after safety checks and recovery work are complete.
The judiciary is investigating the cause of the accident. A judicial inquiry has been opened to establish what happened and determine any possible liability. Technical data from the trains and the signalling and safety systems are being secured and analysed. The authorities have urged people not to mistake preliminary assessments for confirmed findings. The relevant authorities intend to release further official information about the cause and final death toll in due course.
With its mourning decree, Extremadura has made a widely noted expression of solidarity across Spain. Meanwhile, the operational focus remains on rescue work, identifying the victims, supporting their families and gradually restoring rail services to normal.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).