Two South Korean nationals were among the injured in a high‑speed train collision near Urda in Toledo province, Spain, a Korean foreign ministry source said Thursday.
The crash, which involved a Renfe AVE train striking a stationary Iryo carriage, killed at least 68 people and left about 80 injured, with roughly 50 seriously wounded. The Korean ministry confirmed that one of the two injured passengers sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment, while the other remains hospitalized. It said 11 South Korean passengers had been confirmed aboard the trains involved as of 6:40 a.m. Thursday.
Spanish officials say the collision occurred when a moving train ran into a stopped one on the Madrid‑Seville high‑speed line, derailing two carriages and causing them to roll into an embankment. Investigators are pursuing a computer failure that may have allowed the runaway train to proceed without speed restrictions, while signalling failures remain a focus of inquiry.
"Spain is in mourning," said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the scene. Sánchez also said the government would investigate the crash and, if negligence was found, expose it.
"In the event of a system failure, the control center takes over," said Transport Minister Oscar Puente at a press conference. Puente added that the control centre had decided to allow the Renfe train to depart again despite a red signal, leading to the collision.
Kyodo reported that two Japanese nationals may have been aboard the trains involved, but the claim remains unverified.
