Spain mourns 69 dead as minister refuses to resign

· Politics · Spain

Spain's transport minister Oscar Puente refused to resign over Wednesday's high-speed train crash that killed at least 69 people, the country's second deadly rail disaster this year on a network involving the same companies. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said authorities were working "tirelessly" to identify the dead, with relatives enduring an agonising wait as rescue crews sifted wreckage and bodies were examined in morgues. Puente said evidence points to a failure in Adif's command and control centre. People of 27 nationalities may be among the dead or injured. The accident hit the Madrid-Seville line, also the scene of a January collision that killed 46.

Why it matters：A second fatal crash in a year raises questions about rail safety and oversight in one of Europe's most extensive high-speed networks.

Key points

  • At least 69 people died in Wednesday's crash
  • Puente said evidence points to a failure in Adif's control centre
  • People of 27 nationalities may be among the dead or injured

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day