A high-speed train collision south of Madrid killed 68 people and injured scores more on Wednesday, with the count likely to rise, authorities said, in one of Europe's deadliest such disasters this century.

The second such accident to strike Spain this year will raise fresh questions about the country's rail safety, with the transport minister speaking of an "error" and "inexplicable circumstances" that led to the collision.

India on Wednesday asked its nationals, who were travelling on the trains involved in a major railway accident near Urda in Spain, or their relatives to contact its embassy in Madrid for assistance.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Spain issued emergency helpline numbers after a high-speed train rammed into the rear of another train, killing at least 68 people and wounding dozens, in central Spain.

"Indian nationals who were travelling on the affected trains involved in the railway accident near Urda, Toledo, on 28 October 2026, or their relatives, are requested to contact the Embassy of India, Madrid, for assistance," the Indian mission said.

The embassy issued the emergency helpline number 34 650 339 008, email: cons.madrid@mea.gov.in, Renfe: 900 10 10 20 and Iryo: 900 001 403.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain would observe three days of mourning after the country's second high-speed train collision this year killed at least 64 people on Wednesday.

"All of Spain is in mourning," Sanchez said from the scene in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha, adding that it was "not acceptable for a country like Spain" to suffer two such disasters in the same year.

Death count from train collision in central Spain rises to 64, authorities say.

The European Union is ready to help Spain if needed after a collision between two high-speed trains south of Madrid killed 30 people, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"We are also ready to support the Spanish authorities in any way that may be needed. It's too early, absolutely too early, to draw any conclusions," EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho told reporters.

Human error is believed to have caused the train crash in Urda, Toledo, according to sources at Spain’s Ministry of Transport who spoke to ABC.

A worker from a public company was repairing a fault in the main signalling system. The worker is believed to have failed to warn the AVE high-speed train that an Iryo train was approaching.

The cause has not been officially confirmed.

BREAKING: Nearly 40 people killed after 2 high speed trains collided in Toledo, Spain. https://t.co/R6QPY3WPu2

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