In a tragic incident that has shaken the nation, two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, leaving at least 40 people dead and more than 120 injured. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has vowed to get to the bottom of the cause of this devastating accident, the worst the country has seen in over a decade.
The collision occurred on Sunday evening near the city of Córdoba, when a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming train. The force of the impact pushed the carriages of the second train into an embankment, with most of the casualties reported in the front carriages.
Rescue teams have faced a challenging task, as the twisted wreckage of the trains has made it difficult to recover those trapped inside. Sánchez, who visited the site on Monday, described it as a “day of sorrow for all of Spain” and pledged to uncover the truth behind the tragedy with “absolute transparency and absolute clarity”.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente has described the incident as “extremely strange” and said the investigation could take at least a month. However, Reuters has reported that initial investigations have found a faulty joint on the rails, which was causing a gap between the rail sections as trains passed over it. It remains unclear whether this fault was a cause or a result of the crash.
The type of train involved, the Frecciarossa 1000, is capable of reaching speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph). Eyewitness accounts have described the impact as feeling like an “earthquake”, with passengers in the first carriage reporting chaos and screaming.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have expressed their “most heartfelt condolences”, while the Spanish Red Cross has deployed emergency support services and offered counselling to the families affected.
This incident has once again highlighted the need for rigorous safety standards and transparency in the operation of Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network, the second-largest in the world. As the investigation continues, the nation waits with bated breath for the answers that will hopefully prevent such a devastating loss of life from occurring again.
