What we know so far about deadly Spain train crash
At least 69 people have died after two high-speed trains collided on Wednesday morning on the railway line south of Madrid, Spain’s capital, which connects the city to Seville.
The crash occurred when a state-operated Renfe train struck the rear of a stationary train operated by private rail company Iryo near the town of Urda.
Here is what is known about the incident so far.
Where and when did the crash happen?
The collision occurred at 08:53 local time (07:53 GMT) between the municipalities of Mora and Orgaz, approximately 140km south of Madrid, according to the Spanish government.
The privately operated Iryo train appears to have been stationary when the Renfe train crashed into its rear at high speed. Iryo said its train had been struck from behind for reasons that remain unknown.
The impact caused several carriages to derail, with some tumbling down an embankment.
Rail services along the route were suspended, with trains stopped at stations across the line. Renfe also announced the suspension of services between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia.
A passenger on one of the trains told local media that a powerful impact occurred about 40 minutes into the journey.
What caused the crash?
Spain’s Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, said a computer malfunction at around 08:30 on Wednesday caused six moving trains, including the two involved in the collision, to stop.
He explained that when the system failed, responsibility for controlling train movements shifted to the control centre. The centre subsequently authorised the trains to resume their journeys without speed restrictions.
Puente described the decision as inexplicable, saying it resulted in the Renfe train crashing into the stationary Iryo train ahead.
Audio recordings obtained by Spanish media from communications between train drivers and railway infrastructure company Adif’s control centre in Madrid appear to indicate that one train was cleared to move at 08:36, despite another train being stalled about 25km ahead.
In one recording, a controller instructed the Renfe driver to disconnect and reconnect the LZB system, which monitors train speeds, before continuing at normal speed.
The driver sought confirmation, asking whether the train could proceed at normal speed. The controller responded affirmatively.
Under normal safety procedures, the driver would have been expected to travel at a maximum of 40km/h, relying on visibility and the ability to stop within the distance ahead, rather than operating at normal speed on a line designed for speeds of up to 200km/h.
The Lateral Signalling Block system serves as an alternative when automatic signalling or data transmission systems fail.
A separate recording involving the Iryo train’s driver shows that the train had stopped in front of an entry signal at Urda. After discussions with the control centre, the driver was instructed to resume the journey.
However, a subsequent communication indicates that the train could not move because its security system would not allow the driver to take control.
The recording suggests that the control centre had been informed that the Iryo train remained stationary as the Renfe train approached.
How many passengers were on board?
More than 540 people were travelling on the two trains when the collision occurred.
Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, told Spanish broadcaster TVE that the Iryo train was carrying 146 passengers and a baby, while the Renfe train had 397 passengers on board.
Fátima Báñez, who heads the foundation of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), was also reported to have been on one of the trains and was initially listed among those missing.
Spanish authorities said more than 100 people received treatment for injuries. By the following day, 50 remained hospitalised, including 15 in critical condition.
How have authorities responded?
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain was mourning the victims, describing the tragedy as one that had devastated lives and torn families apart.
During a visit to the crash site, Sánchez said the government was working to establish the cause of the disaster and promised a thorough investigation.
He pledged that any negligence uncovered would be brought to light and that any failures in railway safety systems would be addressed firmly.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, whose conservative People’s Party was leading most opinion polls ahead of the November 29 elections, said it was not the time to debate political responsibility. However, he insisted that the public deserved answers about the state of the country’s railway infrastructure.
Most Spanish political parties cancelled public engagements and suspended their election campaigns following the tragedy.
The far-right Vox party, led by Santiago Abascal, declined to participate in what it described as attempts to use national mourning to suppress criticism of railway infrastructure.
Spain began three days of official mourning on Thursday.
The Spanish royal family also expressed shock and concern, offering condolences to the families of those killed and everyone affected by the collision. The European Union said it was ready to assist Spain if necessary.
Emergency services, including firefighters and helicopters, were deployed to the crash site as rescue and recovery operations continued.
Hospitals in the affected areas reportedly postponed scheduled surgeries to accommodate injured passengers. A blood transfusion centre in Madrid also appealed for urgent blood donations in anticipation of increased demand.
Medical facilities in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly cancelled procedures as casualties arrived for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Civil Guard established offices in Madrid, Toledo, Seville and Córdoba to coordinate efforts to locate missing passengers.
The agency said identifying missing people and collecting DNA samples to help reunite them with their relatives were its immediate priorities.
The crash is Spain’s second major high-speed rail tragedy this year. In January, a train derailed in the south of the country, sending its rear carriages into the path of a Renfe train. That incident claimed 46 lives.
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