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30 Dead in Spanish Train Catastrophe
28 Oct
Summary
- A collision between two high-speed trains south of Madrid resulted in 30 fatalities.
- The accident occurred in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha, near Urda municipality.
- This marks Spain's second high-speed train disaster this year, raising safety concerns.
A catastrophic collision involving two high-speed trains south of Madrid on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with the number of casualties expected to increase. The incident occurred in the municipality of Urda, Castilla-La Mancha, approximately 130 kilometers south of the capital.
Emergency services, including fire crews, helicopters, and mobile intensive care units, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Images depicted extensive wreckage strewn across the tracks and embankment. State railway operator Renfe confirmed the disruption to the main high-speed line from Madrid to southern Spain following the crash between one of its services and a train operated by private company Iryo.
This tragedy follows another high-speed train collision in January near Adamuz, which claimed 46 lives. Both accidents occurred on the Madrid to Seville line, Spain's first high-speed route established in 1992. The repeated incidents have intensified scrutiny on the safety of Spain's extensive high-speed rail network, the world's second-largest.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, facing an early general election on November 29, expressed his shock and offered condolences to the victims and their families. He canceled his attendance at an obesity summit in Madrid, and his Socialist party halted campaign activities. European leaders, including European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, conveyed their condolences and solidarity.
