69 killed as Renfe train strikes stationary Iryo service in central Spain
Forensic teams have identified all but three of the victims, including four Americans and one citizen each from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia, and the Czech Republic.
By Tessa Cooper ·
A high-speed train operated by Renfe collided with the rear of a stopped Iryo service outside the village of Urda on Wednesday. The crash killed 69 people, making it one of the deadliest rail accidents in Europe this century. The incident occurred approximately 130 kilometers south of Madrid.
Authorities confirmed the nationalities of the latest group of identified foreign victims on Sunday. The list includes four US citizens and one person each from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia, and the Czech Republic. These 10 individuals join a French citizen, a Portuguese citizen, and 54 Spanish nationals already confirmed in previous updates.
A legal body comprising police and forensic experts stated that all but three victims have been identified. Three active missing persons reports remain for two Australians and one Japanese citizen. The body said it is waiting for these families to arrive in Spain for in-person identification, as they have requested to travel to the country.
The collision happened after an automatic safety system failure halted all trains on a 63-kilometer stretch of track. A control center authorized the moving Renfe train to resume its journey while the Iryo train remained stationary. This marks the second high-speed train collision in Spain this year, following a January crash in Andalusia that killed 46 people.
The disaster has raised new questions about rail safety in the country. The accident occurred one month before the general election scheduled for November 29. Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez is seeking to extend his eight-year premiership amid unfavorable polling numbers.
