69 Dead in Urda Train Crash as Spain Marks One Month of Grief
King Felipe and Queen Letizia joined thousands in Toledo Cathedral to honor victims, with a general election looming in two weeks.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Sixty-nine people died in a high-speed train collision near the town of Urda last month, marking Spain’s worst rail disaster since 2013.
The accident occurred when a moving train struck the rear of a stationary train on the Madrid to Seville line. The impact happened approximately 40 miles from Toledo. While 69 individuals lost their lives, 28 others remain hospitalized recovering from injuries. This tragedy is the second major rail incident in Spain this year, following a crash in January near Adamuz that killed 46 people on the same high-speed route.
On 10 November, King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended a memorial service at a cathedral in Toledo to honor the victims. They were met with applause upon entering the building. The royal couple joined a large gathering of mourners, political leaders, and family members. At the conclusion of the Catholic Mass, the royals spoke directly with relatives of the deceased to offer comfort.
Archbishop Cerro Chaves addressed the congregation, describing the pain left behind by the accident as difficult for families and society to accept. A solemn moment followed as representatives of the deceased carried lit candles to the front of the cathedral. They placed the candles beside the main altar in a symbolic act of remembrance. Ana Benitez, the sister of 38-year-old victim David Benitez, read the first passage of the service. Her presence, along with other family members, grounded the formal proceedings in the personal loss of local communities.
Several senior politicians attended the service to show national support. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the opposition People's Party, was present alongside Emiliano García-Page, the president of the Castilla-La Mancha region. Carlos Cuerpo, the current Transport and Economy Minister, represented the executive branch. Cuerpo assumed his role last week after Óscar Puente resigned amid pressure following the crash. Puente had suggested that human error and a safety system glitch contributed to the disaster. An official investigation into the accident is still ongoing.
The memorial took place one month before the general election scheduled for 29 November. The timing places the disaster at the center of the re-election campaign for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Residents from both Urda and Adamuz attended the service, representing the two communities affected by this year’s rail incidents.
The event coincided with a nationwide strike by train drivers demanding improved safety measures. Additional disruptions hit rail services on Wednesday due to a general strike led by housing activists. These workers are calling for urgent measures to control rising rental costs, adding another layer of social tension to the week.
