Arabic version: تأكيد مقتل أستراليين في تصادم قطارين بإسبانيا
According to ABC News, two Australians were among 69 people confirmed dead after a collision between two high-speed trains in Spain. The Communications Office of the High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha told ABC News that the Australians’ identities had been communicated to their families.
Spanish authorities said all 69 victims of the crash in Urda had been identified. The dead included 54 Spanish nationals and 15 foreign citizens: one Argentine, two Australians, one Canadian, one Czech, four Americans, one French national, two Japanese, one Mexican, one Portuguese and one Tunisian.
The crash occurred around 130 kilometres south of Madrid when a service operated by state rail operator Renfe struck the rear of a stationary train belonging to Spanish company Iryo. About 500 passengers were on the two trains. Investigations into the cause are continuing.
A failure of an automatic safety system had stopped train movements on a 63-kilometre section of track, but a control centre authorised the Renfe service to continue while the other train remained on the line. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the families of the two Australians and offered condolences to those affected.
The accident was Spain’s second high-speed rail collision this year, following a January crash in the southern region of Andalusia that killed 46 people. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said it was unacceptable for Spain to suffer two high-speed rail accidents in the same year, and said his government would declare three days of national mourning and pursue increased safety measures.
