The train crash occurred in Urda, a town located about 150 kilometers south of Madrid, on Wednesday. The accident involved two trains, an AVE train operated by the public company Renfe and an Iryo train operated by a private company. According to Emiliano Garcia-Page, the president of the regional government of Castile-La Mancha, the number of confirmed deaths has risen to 69 after a body was found during the night and early morning.
At least 50 people remain hospitalized in various hospitals in the region, with 15 of them in serious condition. A total of 110 people were treated in hospitals, with 60 already discharged. Garcia-Page made the announcement at a press conference held at the emergency response center set up in Toledo. The center was also attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who promised a detailed investigation into the causes of the accident.
Sanchez stated that the government will investigate the causes of the accident "down to the last detail" and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. He also announced that three days of national mourning would be observed in memory of the victims. The prime minister expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and assured that the government will take all necessary measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
According to recordings disclosed by local media, the accident occurred after a technical failure and a series of errors by the operators of the circulation control center. The recordings reveal that the operators gave incorrect instructions to the train drivers, which contributed to the accident. The technical failure occurred at 08:30 local time, causing the automatic safety system to malfunction.
The recordings show that the train drivers received conflicting instructions from the control center, which led to the accident. The AVE train was instructed to resume normal speed, despite another train being stopped on the same line 25 kilometers ahead. The Iryo train driver reported technical problems and was unable to move, but the control center instructed her to try to advance.
The investigation into the accident has revealed a chain of errors by the control center operators. The errors include giving instructions to the trains to resume normal speed despite the technical failure, and failing to instruct the AVE train to stop despite being aware of the Iryo train's technical problems. The minister of transport, Oscar Puente, described the instructions as "inexplicable" and "erroneous".
The Spanish government has announced that it will take measures to improve safety on the rail network and prevent such accidents in the future. The government has also promised to provide support to the families of the victims and to those affected by the accident. The accident has raised concerns about the safety of Spain's rail network and the need for improvements to prevent such tragedies.
Key points
- The death toll from the train crash in Urda, Spain, has risen to 69.
- The accident occurred after a technical failure and a series of errors by the operators of the circulation control center.
- The Spanish government has promised a detailed investigation and measures to improve safety on the rail network.
