Spain's King Felipe VI Visits Hospital as Families Search for Missing Train Passengers
More than 24 hours after a deadly collision in Toledo, relatives continue to search for loved ones while authorities manage the care of 110 hospitalized patients.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Families gathered in Toledo on Thursday to search for missing relatives after a high-speed rail collision that killed at least 69 people.
The crash occurred more than 24 hours earlier when a RENFE train struck an Iryo train that had stopped on the tracks. Authorities reported 180 people were injured in the accident, with 110 requiring transport to hospitals. Search teams using sniffer dogs continued their work in the area on Thursday morning.
César Vicente, an actor from Seville, traveled 495 kilometers to Toledo to find his father. He spent the night at a religious center that served as a base for affected families. His father was seated in seat 13A on the RENFE train. Vicente described the situation as unbearable and called it hell. His mother and aunt joined him in the search, bracing themselves against the cold morning air.
Relatives also turned to social media for help. Alejandra Marroquín posted on Instagram that her sister Adriana, who was wearing dark blue clothes, was in car 8 of the RENFE train. Marroquín stated that the family had not yet made contact with her. Other friends and relatives shared photos and descriptions of clothing and seat numbers to assist in the search.
This incident marks the second fatal high-speed rail disaster in Spain this year. In January, 46 people died when a train jumped the tracks and hit another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction in southern Spain. Prior to this year, the network had not experienced a deadly crash since its launch more than three decades ago.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia spent over an hour visiting injured passengers at Toledo University Hospital. The king told reporters that society must move forward with dignity and resolve. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters that the government was working to help victims' families and improve security measures to prevent future accidents.
In the small town of Urda, about 2,500 residents rushed to assist after the crash. Construction worker David Gómez and his colleagues cut through fences to access the area and used first-aid kits to treat victims until emergency services arrived. Residents also carried passengers from the tracks to a nearby sports pavilion in their cars.
The region of Castilla-La Mancha mobilized 1,300 emergency service personnel. More than 2,000 people volunteered to help in the aftermath. Regional president Emiliano García-Page expressed gratitude for the record number of blood donations following the authorities' call.
