Spain train crash: US, Japan and Canada citizens among dead, authorities say
Spanish authorities have identified all but three of the 69 people killed in last week's high-speed train collision outside the village of Urda, roughly 130 kilometers south of Madrid. The disaster, one of Europe’s deadliest rail accidents this century, claimed 54 Spaniards as well as foreign citizens from the United States (four), Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia, the Czech Republic, France, and Portugal. Three missing persons reports remain active for two Australians and one Japanese citizen, with their families currently traveling to Spain to carry out in-person identifications.
The disaster occurred when a train run by state operator Renfe collided with the rear of a stationary service belonging to Spanish firm Iryo. An automatic safety system failure had initially halted rail traffic across a 63-kilometer stretch of track, but a control center authorized the Renfe train to resume its journey while the Iryo service was still stopped on the line.
This marks Spain’s second fatal high-speed collision this year, after a January crash in Andalusia killed 46 people. The tragedy has reignited intense debate over rail safety just ahead of a 29 November general election, in which Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez seeks to extend his eight-year premiership despite trailing in the polls.
Continue in the app — vote & join in ➔