Forensic specialists have identified all 69 victims killed in a collision between two trains in Urda, in the central Spanish province of Toledo.
The identification work was completed by the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Toledo and Ciudad Real, according to the Integrated Data Centre.
A provisional casualty assessment released by the High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha confirmed that 54 of the deceased were Spanish nationals and 15 were foreign citizens. Judicial officials stated that one Portuguese citizen is among the foreign nationals killed in the crash.
All 69 victims were adults, according to the court. The victims include 40 men and 29 women.
The Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, which covers both Toledo and the neighbouring province of Ciudad Real south of Madrid, is the official scientific agency charged with post-mortem examinations and forensic identification in the region. Spain's Integrated Data Centre coordinates forensic records, dental data, and genetic profiles during mass casualty incidents to ensure accurate identification before formal notifications are delivered to families.
Government response and investigation
The disaster occurred on Wednesday when two trains collided in Urda, a municipality situated in the southern part of the province of Toledo. Urda lies in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, an expansive region across central Spain that borders Madrid to the north.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised transparency regarding the disaster and said his administration would make all resources available to clarify the causes of the rail collision in Toledo.
Sánchez, who has served as the head of the Spanish government since 2018, insisted that investigators must thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Under Spanish legal procedure, transport safety specialists and judicial magistrates work to inspect track conditions, signalling mechanisms, and operational logs to determine why the two trains collided.
Repatriation of foreign casualties
Among the 15 foreign citizens killed in the collision is a Portuguese national. The transfer of the Portuguese citizen's body back to Portugal remains pending while authorities await a formal order from the presiding judge.
Under Spanish law, the release and international repatriation of human remains following a fatal transport disaster requires explicit judicial clearance from the investigating magistrate supervising the case.
The court must ensure that all forensic protocols, legal autopsies, and victim verifications are fully completed before mortal remains can be handed over to diplomatic missions and foreign consular representatives for return to their home countries.
Political fallout ahead of elections
The fatal collision in Toledo has triggered intense scrutiny across Spain, where the crash was described as unacceptable as the country prepares for nationwide legislative elections scheduled to take place in one month.
The timing of the disaster places rail safety and public infrastructure under intense political focus during the pre-election campaign. Transport oversight and public investment are prominent issues for Spanish voters as political parties contest seats in the national parliament.
The High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha confirmed that its casualty tally remains provisional while the judicial inquiry continues. With the identification of all 69 adult victims now complete, court authorities in Toledo are focusing on the release of documentation for grieving families and the continuing investigation into Wednesday's crash.
