Canadian confirmed among 69 killed in Spain train crash
Officials identified the victims of the Oct. 28 collision, which also claimed 54 Spaniards and citizens from eight other nations.
By Aiko Soto ·
Spain’s high-speed rail network experienced its second fatal disaster this year when two trains collided near the town of Urda on Oct. 28. The accident resulted in 69 deaths and injured dozens of passengers and crew members.
The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Castilla La Mancha released a statement on Sunday confirming the nationalities of the deceased. Among the victims is one Canadian citizen. The rest of the fatalities include 54 Spaniards, as well as citizens from France, the United States, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
Global Affairs Canada previously informed media outlets that it was tracking six injured Canadians and one individual who remained unaccounted for at the time of the initial report. The department cited privacy concerns and has not provided an updated status on the missing person despite recent inquiries.
The collision involved two trains carrying a total of 526 passengers and 12 crew members. According to Transport Minister Óscar Puente, the crash occurred after an automatic signaling failure stopped several trains. The Madrid control center then authorized a state-owned Renfe train to move forward while an Iryo-operated train remained stationary ahead of it.
This incident follows a January crash on the same rail line that killed 46 people. The repetition of fatal accidents on this route has intensified scrutiny of maintenance and safety protocols on what is Europe's largest high-speed rail network.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the crash site late last week to pledge a thorough investigation. He aims to implement improvements to prevent future tragedies. Sánchez and his Socialists are currently campaigning ahead of a national election scheduled for Nov. 29.
The government faces political pressure from opposition parties, with some demanding Puente resign. The crash adds to existing public discontent regarding housing costs, rent levels, and migration policies.
Spanish authorities have completed the identification process using data from the country's Center for Integrated Data. The next major political milestone is the Nov. 29 vote.
