World News
Spain Observes Three Days of Mourning as Train Crash Death Toll Climbs to 40
Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday as flags were lowered to half-staff across the country following the deadly train crash in southern Spain, while emergency teams continued searching the wreckage for possible additional victims.
Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday as flags were lowered to half-staff across the country following the deadly train crash in southern Spain, while emergency teams continued searching the wreckage for possible additional victims.
The official death toll from Sunday evening’s accident has risen to 40, authorities confirmed late Monday. However, officials cautioned that the figure may increase as search operations are still underway. Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno described the crash site as “a twisted mass of metal,” underscoring the severity of the wreckage.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE that rescue workers believe three more bodies may still be trapped inside the mangled carriages. These have not yet been added to the official casualty count.
The accident occurred at around 7:45 pm on Sunday when the rear section of a train carrying 289 passengers from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crashed into an oncoming train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail operator Adif. The front of the second train, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers, bore the brunt of the impact. Its first two coaches were knocked off the tracks and plunged down a four-metre slope.
Some victims were found hundreds of metres away from the collision site, Moreno said.
Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, which Transport Minister Oscar Puente earlier described as “strange,” noting that it occurred on a straight stretch of track and that neither train was reported to be speeding. Puente later revealed that a broken section of track had been discovered, though it remains unclear whether this was the cause of the derailment or a result of the collision.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site near the town of Adamuz on Monday and announced three days of mourning, with flags lowered on all public buildings and naval vessels. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are expected to visit the site on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Civil Guard has begun collecting DNA samples from relatives of missing passengers as efforts continue to identify victims of one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in recent years.
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