Deadly Rail Collision Kills Dozens in Spain
Train from Madrid to Seville collides with stationary Iryo service, prompting national mourning and political fallout.
Callum Smith
At least 68 people died and dozens sustained injuries in a Spanish rail disaster.
A collision occurred shortly before 9 am on Wednesday. A train traveling from Madrid to Seville struck a stationary Iryo service carrying 147 passengers. The Iryo train had stopped on the tracks due to a computer failure.
The RENFE train involved in the crash was capable of speeds up to 185 mph.
Spain now observes three days of national mourning. European Union flags fly at half-mast in Brussels. Most political parties suspended campaigning for upcoming elections.
Among the deceased was Fatima Banez, Spain's former employment minister. Medical teams treated 107 people; 15 individuals remain in serious condition.
Authorities converted a local sports hall into a center for survivors. A primary school was reserved for victims' relatives. Rail drivers will proceed with a planned strike on Thursday.
Both deadly crashes this year involved a state-owned RENFE train and one from the privately owned IRYO. Spain liberalized its high-speed rail service in 2021.
An inexplicable decision to instruct the trains to move again, without any speed restrictions.
The central command center instructed the RENFE train to resume movement without speed restrictions, despite an active stop signal. This directly led to the collision. Óscar Puente stated that a 24-hour control center in Madrid takes over during system failures, but it made an "inexplicable" decision to instruct the trains to move again, without any speed restrictions.
Demonstrators demanded the resignations of Sánchez and Puente. Santiago Abascal claimed his party would not take part in attempts to "use mourning to silence criticism" of the country's rail infrastructure.