Rail collision near Toledo kills dozens as footballers attack minister Óscar Puente

The collision

On the morning of 28 October 2026, a Renfe train ran into the back of an Iryo train between Mora, Orgaz and Urda, in the province of Toledo. Two carriages of the Iryo train derailed and fell down an embankment, according to La Razón. Reports disagree on the death toll: JN gave at least 30 killed, while Il Fatto Quotidiano gave at least 64 dead and 80 injured. Both reports were published on 28 October, so neither figure should be read as a settled count. Commentators in La Razón said it was still too early to determine the causes, and they linked the crash to the Adamuz rail accident, about a year before this one, whose victims are still seeking answers.

Football and the minister

The Spanish Football Federation cancelled the Copa del Rey matches scheduled for 28 October, according to JN and Il Fatto Quotidiano, which counted 24 games. JN added that a decision on the matches set for 29 October would be taken later. Marcos Llorente, an Atlético Madrid player and Spain international, then posted a message aimed at Óscar Puente, the minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. El Periódico described it as an Instagram post, and Il Fatto Quotidiano said several players shared it, among them Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois, Alex Baena and Joselu.

“Dear Óscar Puente, isn't it time you put Twitter aside and focused on the job we pay you for?”

Llorente went further, saying the minister had so far been a disaster at that job and would, as always, blame someone else. He argued that when lives are at stake, a transport minister owes responsibility, seriousness, safety and respect.

Reactions from public figures

Chef José Andrés wrote on social media that the country had a minister devoted to insults and tweets, and he said the crash should not be seen as a one-off.

“This is not an isolated accident.”

Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, son of the Duchess of Alba, said Puente lacked the standing for his post, accused him of a reckless style on social media, and called for his resignation. He also told the minister he should examine his conscience over a second very serious accident with many deaths indirectly under his responsibility. Other television faces took a gentler line. Roberto Leal and Ana Obregón sent messages of sympathy to the victims' families, and Eva González, who regularly uses the rail link between Madrid and Seville, said she was well and expressed concern about the crash, according to El Periódico.

Investment and accountability

Opinion pieces in La Razón argue that Puente should resign, saying a minister holds ultimate political responsibility for the rail system even though he does not drive trains or check signals. El Confidencial presents the crash as the result of a structural decline in infrastructure spending. Citing Javier Jorrín, it says Spain invested 0.66% of GDP in transport in 2023, against a eurozone average of 0.84%, the fourth-lowest level in the eurozone. The same article says workers report maintenance problems across the network, trains and workshops, which it links to frequent incidents and delays.

Spain0.66%

Eurozone average0.84%

Spain

0.66 %

Eurozone average

0.84 %

Data from the article text