Spain declares three days of mourning after train collision kills 68

Summary

• MADRID: Spain has declared three days of national mourning after a devastating train collision killed at least 68 people and injured dozens more in one of the country’s deadliest railway disasters in recent history.
• According to Transport Minister Óscar Puente, the stationary train, operated by private railway company Iryo, was carrying 147 passengers when it stopped on the tracks following a reported computer failure.
• Sánchez noted that the country had suffered another major rail accident in January, when 46 people were killed in a high-speed train crash near Córdoba.

AI Generated Summary

MADRID: Spain has declared three days of national mourning after a devastating train collision killed at least 68 people and injured dozens more in one of the country’s deadliest railway disasters in recent history.

Emergency workers continued rescue and recovery operations throughout the night, using powerful floodlights and specialised equipment to cut through twisted metal and reach passengers trapped inside damaged carriages. Authorities were also working to identify the victims, with several casualties yet to be formally identified.

The accident occurred on Wednesday morning when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck a stationary passenger train. The impact caused several carriages to derail, with some plunging down an embankment.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed grief over the tragedy, saying the disaster had devastated families across the country. He said the nation was mourning the loss of lives and offered condolences to those affected.