Railway accident in Andalusia: At least 39 dead as Spain mourns
A horrific train accident struck Andalusia late on Sunday, plunging Spain into grief and disbelief. According to the latest toll released by the Spanish Interior Ministry, at least 39 people have lost their lives, while several dozen injured have been hospitalized, including five in “very critical” condition and 24 in serious condition. Authorities have warned, however, that this figure remains “not final” as rescue operations are still ongoing.
Initial reports indicate that a high speed train first derailed before being struck by a second train traveling on the opposite track. The second convoy also derailed. Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as an “extremely strange accident,” stressing how difficult it is to quickly determine the exact causes of the disaster.
Images and eyewitness accounts point to a collision of extraordinary violence. Search operations are still underway this morning, as some victims have been found several hundred meters from the carriages, highlighting the sheer force of the impact.
In response to the scale of the tragedy, Spain has moved to show national solidarity. The Ministry of Transport announced that a minute of silence will be observed at noon in tribute to the victims. Real Madrid, the country’s iconic football club, has already held a moment of silence during its training session this morning.
The city of Huelva, the original destination of one of the trains involved, has declared three days of mourning. Local authorities fear that several victims may be residents of the city, as the train was scheduled to terminate there. Flags have been lowered to half mast and all official events have been suspended.
The president of the national railway company Renfe stated that only 20 seconds elapsed between the derailment of the first train and its collision with the second. The causes remain unknown. An independent commission has been tasked with conducting an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the tragedy.
As a sign of solidarity, King Felipe VI and the Queen of Spain have decided to cut short their stay in Greece, where they are currently traveling. They are expected to visit Córdoba on Tuesday to assess the situation and offer their support to the families of the victims.
Editorial team/le7tv
