69 Dead In Latest Spain High Speed Train Collision
At least 69 people have died and over 100 injured after a train crash yesterday around 120 kilometres south of Madrid.
According to reports a high-speed AVE train hit a stationary Iryo service near the village of Urda in the province of Toledo.
Both trains had left Madrid Atocha earlier and were en-route to Sevilla when the collision happened yesterday morning.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government told the Spanish news agency EFE that the provisional death toll could still rise further.
The Spanish rail operator RENFE has identified the two train services as Renfe 02080 and Iryo 6076.
According to passenger figures, 397 people were aboard the RENFE train and 147 on the Iryo service.
RENFE initially reported that the 112 emergency service had been unable to contact the driver of its train.
‘The two rear carriages of the Iryo are derailed and 112 cannot contact the driver of train 2080 ADIF,’ its statement said.
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced a three day period of official mourning saying he was “dismayed” by the accident.
“I remain in constant contact with the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and with the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García Page. The emergency services are working on the ground to assist those affected and ensure their safety, in coordination with all the administrations involved. My affection, solidarity and support go out to all the victims and their families.”
The Castilla-La Mancha regional premier, Emiliano García-Page said he was following developments ‘with attention and concern’.
‘Both I and the rest of my government are suspending our engagements,’ he announced.
The response brought together Guardia Civil officers, firefighters, Civil Protection volunteers and medical personnel from Castilla-La Mancha’s health service, SESCAM.
Three medical helicopters and two mobile intensive care units were among the resources deployed, according to emergency service sources.
Nearby local villages were also asked to help accommodate those affected.
‘There has been a rear-end collision between two trains and people have been injured. Civil Protection has asked us to make a sports pavilion available in case they need to use it,’ Urda mayor Manuel Galán said.
Human error has emerged as a likely explanation for the collision.
According to information from the Spanish rail network operator,Adif a fault in the line’s main signalling and train protection system, LZB, to avoid collisions may have malfunctioned.
The collision comes nine months after the disaster at Adamuz in the province of Córdoba whick killed 45 people when an Iryo train derailed, leaving rear carriages in the path of an approaching Renfe AVE train.
