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Spain train crash death toll rises to 40 amid investigation

Death toll from Spain train collision rises to 40 as investigation begins. Government declares three days of mourning while authorities promise full transparency.

Spain train crash death toll rises to 40 amid investigation
World
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The death toll from the collision of two trains in southern Spain has risen to 40, according to the latest count announced tonight by the president of Andalusia. **”*There are 40 confirmed deaths*”** said Juan Manuel Moreno in a press conference he gave. **”*In the next 24 to 48 hours (…) we will know*”** the final toll of this railway accident, he added.

Read: Railway accident in Spain: Only 20 seconds passed from derailment to collision – Since August drivers warned of “serious damage” (Video)

Three days of mourning in Spain

The Spanish government declared the country in three days of national mourning, in memory of the victims, while promising a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident. “We will go all the way,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from the scene of the accident. He stated that he guarantees all information from the investigation will come to light, immediately as soon as it is available. Transport Minister Óscar Puente warned that the death toll “is not final.” Nearly 500 people were traveling on the two trains involved in the accident: 294 on the Iryo train running the Málaga-Madrid route and 184 on the Alvia train, which was running the Madrid-Huelva route. Italian company Iryo stated that the train involved in the accident had undergone its last inspection four days before.

Identification proves difficult

Responding to questions about the victims, Andalusia president Juan Manuel Moreno said that work on the train wreckage continues and that the victim identification process will be “intensive, difficult and complex.” He also said that checking the most damaged trains will take a long time: “A lot of material has to be removed,” he explained. Civil Protection in Andalusia has already set up offices in Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, Huelva and Málaga for DNA sample collection and to speed up victim identification.

Investigation into the causes of the railway accident in Spain

So far, neither Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez nor any other official authority has given details about the investigation into the causes. According to information, there is an assessment that the cause of the accident was some fault in the line, possibly a problem with the rail welding. However, official authorities have made no comment. Pedro Sánchez stated that the causes of the accident will be revealed “with time and with the work of experts.”

The president of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, emphasized unity and coordination between administrations. “Today is a day of immense sadness. Every tragedy requires two things: unity in mourning and unity in response. The State has acted in a unified, coordinated and faithful way,” he said. He then promised a thorough investigation into the causes. “We all wonder how this was possible, what happened. Time and the work of specialists will give us the answer. We will reveal the truth and when we learn the answer, we will make it known to the public with absolute transparency. I can guarantee to the victims that we will protect and help them for as long as needed,” he concluded.


Statements of support and solidarity

Condolence messages for this tragic accident are arriving in Madrid from across Europe. The European Parliament observed a minute of silence at the beginning of the first plenary session of the year in Strasbourg in memory of the victims of the railway accident in Adamuz in Córdoba.

“*All of Europe stands by Spain in this moment of deep sadness*,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. European and Spanish flags are flying at half-mast at the European Parliament. “*The nation is shocked and all of Europe mourns with Spain. On behalf of this Parliament, we send our deepest condolences and express our solidarity to all those affected*,” Roberta Metsola said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her grief in a message, speaking of the “terrible news from Córdoba” and sent her “deep condolences” to the families of all victims “and to the Spanish people.” Ursula von der Leyen spoke directly with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to personally convey her condolences. Commission flags will also fly at half-mast as a sign of mourning for the Spanish tragedy, announced the head of the European Commission. European Council President António Costa also expressed his “deep solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and the Spanish people.”

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