CIEE Security Alert: Spain

At least 39 people have been killed and dozens injured after two high-speed passenger trains collided near Urda, Toledo Province, Oct. 28. The collision occurred at approximately 08:54 between Los Yebenes and Urda on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line. At least four carriages derailed, with two falling down an embankment; one carriage reportedly caught fire.

All injured passengers have reportedly been evacuated from the trains. Authorities are continuing recovery operations at the scene, and seriously injured people have been transferred to area hospitals. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Alcazar de San Juan have activated emergency measures to receive casualties. The regional government has activated the Castilla-La Mancha Territorial Emergency Plan at Emergency Phase, Operational Situation 1, and deployed firefighters, civil-protection personnel, medical teams, military emergency personnel, and other resources.

High-speed rail traffic between Madrid and Andalusia remains suspended.

At this time, we have no reports that any CIEE Madrid or Seville participants or staff have been impacted. CIEE teams have reached out to all students in Seville and Madrid to confirm their safety.

As this is a developing situation, CIEE will continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in contact with our participants