Spain identifies foreign victims among 69 killed in high-speed train crash
Authorities say four US citizens and nationals of Canada, Japan and other countries are among 69 killed in the October 28 high-speed train collision near Urda, Spain.
The story in focus
Spanish authorities say four US citizens and one national each of Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic are among 69 people killed in the October 28 high-speed train collision near Urda, central Spain. All but three victims have been identified, and three missing-person reports remain active.
- The collision near Urda on October 28 killed 69 people, including 54 Spaniards, a French citizen and a Portuguese citizen.
- The identification body, made up of police and forensics experts, announced the 10 latest confirmed foreign victims late on Sunday.
- Three missing-person reports remain active, concerning two Australians and one Japanese citizen.
- It was Spain's second fatal high-speed collision this year, after a January crash in Andalusia killed 46.
Foreign nationals named among the dead
A legal body coordinating victim identification in Spain, composed of police and forensics experts, said four US citizens and one citizen each from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic were among the 69 killed. It had previously confirmed 54 Spanish victims and one each from France and Portugal.
The body said all but three of the dead have been identified, with some identifications made from individual body parts. Three missing-person reports remain active, for two Australians and one Japanese citizen. Relatives of some victims intend to travel to Spain for in-person identification, the statement said.
How the crash happened
The October 28 collision occurred outside Urda, roughly 130km south of Madrid, when a Renfe service struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train. More than 540 people were on board the two trains, which were travelling the same route from Madrid to Seville; 58 people were injured.
According to the source, an automatic safety system failure halted trains on a 63km stretch of track, but a control centre authorised the Renfe service to resume while the other train was still stationary. Transport Minister Óscar Puente has attributed much of the failure to a controller's judgment, while rail unions cite staffing and working conditions. Independent investigators said initial findings put the Renfe train's speed at between 100 and 125 mph on impact.
Second fatal crash this year
A January collision in Andalusia killed 46 people and remains under investigation. The Urda disaster came a month before Spain's 29 November general election, in which Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez is seeking a fourth term amid unfavourable polling.
How many of the Urda train crash victims remain unidentified?
Authorities said all but three of the 69 victims had been identified. Three missing-person reports also remain active, concerning two Australian citizens and one Japanese citizen.
Sources & further reading
- Spain train crash: US, Japan and Canada citizens among dead, authorities say ↗The Guardian
- 4 Americans among dozens killed in train crash in Spain, officials say ↗CBS News
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