Spanish PM vows to find cause of deadly high-speed train crash

BBC
BBC
3h ago
Spain is mourning the victims while investigators work to determine why the derailment and subsequent collision occurred.
Spanish PM vows to find cause of deadly high-speed train crash

Key insights

  • 1

    Derailment preceded the collision: Adif said a Madrid-bound train derailed on a straight section of track and crossed onto the opposite tracks before colliding with an oncoming train.

  • 2

    Casualties concentrated in the second train’s front carriages: Transport Minister Óscar Puente said most of those killed and injured were in the front carriages of the second train, which was pushed into an embankment.

  • 3

    Rescue operations hampered by wreckage: Rescue teams said the twisted wreckage made it difficult to recover people trapped inside the carriages.

A What happened
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced three days of national mourning following a high-speed train crash in Adamuz, near Córdoba, that killed at least 40 people and injured more than 120. He said authorities would get to the bottom of why two high-speed trains collided as rescuers continued searching the wreckage. Rail operator Adif said the collision occurred at 19:45 local time on Sunday, about an hour after one train left Málaga for Madrid, when it derailed on a straight stretch of track and crossed onto the opposite line, hitting an oncoming train. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the impact pushed carriages of the second train into an embankment and that most casualties were in the front carriages of the second train, which was traveling from Madrid to Huelva. Rescue teams reported that twisted wreckage made it difficult to reach people trapped inside.

Topics

Investigations Law & Public Safety Public Safety Accidents & Fires

Read the full article on BBC

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