Two Australians confirmed among 69 killed in Spain train crash as Puente prepares to face lawmakers
Spanish authorities say all victims of the Urda collision are now identified, as the transport minister resists calls to resign and a funeral is held for a Cambridge scientist who died in the crash
Spanish authorities have confirmed that two Australians were among the 69 people killed in last week's high-speed train collision near Urda, completing the identification of every victim, as Transport Minister Óscar Puente prepares to be questioned by lawmakers over the disaster.
The High Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha, the body coordinating the judicial response to the crash, said late on Monday that the final three victims had been identified, two Australians and a Japanese citizen. In a statement released on Tuesday it said the work carried out continuously since the crash had "now made it possible to identify all 69 deceased people".
The dead are 54 Spanish nationals and 15 foreigners: four Americans, two Australians, two Japanese and one each from Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Portugal and Tunisia. The court said the victims were 40 men and 29 women, all adults, and that the bodies of 55 had been released to their families. All identifications had been notified to victims' families and to the relevant consular offices, it said.
The crash happened on Wednesday 28 October, when a state-operated Renfe AVE train ran into the rear of a stationary train run by the private operator Iryo near Urda, south of Madrid, knocking two carriages off the track. It was the second collision on the Madrid-Seville line this year, after a crash in Andalusia in January killed 46 people.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday that diplomats were supporting the family of two Australians in connection with the collision and expressed its "heartfelt condolences" for all affected. On Saturday, MP Chris Bowen said consular officials in Spain were working hard. "It's obviously a very, very difficult situation," he said.
A funeral was held in Madrid on Monday for one of the victims, Dr Marta Shahbazi, a 41-year-old University of Cambridge scientist and mother of two who was travelling to collect an award for scientific excellence when the trains collided. Her aunt, María José Alonso, told the BBC that hundreds of friends had come from around the world. "She was the friendliest person you can imagine, with lots of energy. She was a light for all of us," she said. The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, where Shahbazi led a research group, called her an "inspiring, talented and passionate scientist" and said her death was a "profound shock and a huge loss".
Puente is due to appear late on Tuesday before the Permanent Deputation, a reduced caretaker legislature with limited powers ahead of Spain's general election on 29 November. He has refused to resign, saying his way of taking responsibility was to "face up" to the crisis by explaining what happened and fixing the system. Rail unions have accused him of "scapegoating" control workers and have demanded his resignation, while the two train operators have offered different accounts of what drivers were told.
Puente said on Friday that a computer failure was believed to have knocked out the signalling system, and that a subsequent control-centre order for the train to resume its journey was "inexplicable". On Tuesday he announced a €30 million aid package for the families of the dead and the injured, saying: "We pledge to work tirelessly to achieve and regain the public's trust in high-speed rail." Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government would double payouts for victims, advance compensation and improve cover for temporary incapacity, with the priority being to help victims and restore "the shattered confidence in high-speed rail as soon as possible with whatever it takes".
El País, citing unidentified sources, reported that measures under consideration include a 40km/h speed limit when trains rely on a driver's vision to spot obstacles after a signalling failure, a faster rollout of the standardised European Rail Traffic Management System, and more staff and better conditions in rail control centres.
Scientists pay tribute to Marta Shahbazi Alonso and Tamara González Costa who died on their way to a developmental-biology meeting
go.nature.com/4iTyNO1
The confirmation completes the identification of all 69 dead, ending an agonising wait for families in Spain and abroad, including two Australian households.
Puente's appearance before lawmakers comes with his position under pressure from rail unions and amid a general election campaign, making the crash a live political question.
The safety measures under discussion, including a temporary speed limit and faster rollout of European signalling standards, would affect how Spain's high-speed network operates.
Background
Spain's high-speed network, built around the Renfe AVE service, is one of the most extensive in Europe, and the Madrid-Seville line where both of this year's fatal collisions occurred is among its oldest high-speed routes. Renfe is the state operator; Iryo is a private competitor that entered the market when Spain opened its high-speed lines to rival operators. The European Rail Traffic Management System is the standardised signalling and safety technology intended to replace older national systems across the continent.
Key Perspectives
María José Alonso, Shahbazi's aunt: described her niece as "the friendliest person you can imagine", adding "She was a light for all of us" and that hundreds of friends travelled from around the world for the funeral.
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology: called Shahbazi an "inspiring, talented and passionate scientist" and a "much-admired role model for a 'mother scientist'", and described her death as a "profound shock and a huge loss".
Óscar Puente: said a control-centre order allowing the train to resume was "inexplicable", has refused to resign, saying he would "face up" to the crisis, and pledged to "work tirelessly" to regain public trust in high-speed rail.
Rail unions: according to the Sydney Morning Herald, accused Puente of "scapegoating" control workers and demanded his resignation.
Pedro Sánchez: said the priority was helping victims and restoring "the shattered confidence in high-speed rail as soon as possible with whatever it takes".
Chris Bowen: said Australian consular officials in Spain were working hard in what he called a very difficult situation.
What to Watch
Puente's evidence before the Permanent Deputation late on Tuesday, and whether pressure on him escalates afterwards.
Cabinet approval of the aid package and the safety measures Puente is expected to present.
The 29 November general election, with the government's handling of the crash now part of the campaign.
12 claims in this story checked against 5 sources: 12 supported.
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SupportedSpanish authorities confirmed that two Australians were among the 69 people killed in the train crash.Australia news | The Guardian: “Two Australians are among 69 people who died in last week’s high-speed train collision after Spanish authorities confirmed the identities of three more victims.”
SupportedAll 69 victims have now been identified, including two Australians and a Japanese citizen among the final three identified.7NEWS: ““The work to identify those who died in the railway accident in Urda (Toledo), which has been carried out continuously since last Wednesday at the Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Toledo and Ciudad Real, has now made it possible to identify all 69 deceased people,” it said in a statement.”
SupportedPuente is due to appear late Tuesday before the Permanent Deputation to answer lawmakers.7NEWS: “Oscar Puente is set to appear late on Tuesday before the Permanent Deputation, a reduced caretaker legislature that holds limited powers between parliamentary terms before Spain’s general election on November 29.”
SupportedPuente has refused to resign despite calls for his resignation.7NEWS: “Puente has refused to step down, saying his way of taking responsibility was to “face up” to the crisis by explaining what happened to the public and fixing the system.”
SupportedThe identified dead comprise 54 Spanish nationals and 15 foreign nationals, with the foreign victims’ nationalities listed in the story.7NEWS: ““The 69 identifications correspond to 54 Spanish nationals and 15 foreign nationals, comprising: one Argentine, two Australians, one Canadian, one Czech, four Americans, one French, two Japanese, one Mexican, one Portuguese, one Tunisian.””
SupportedThe court said the identification work had “now made it possible to identify all 69 deceased people”.7NEWS: ““The work to identify those who died in the railway accident in Urda (Toledo), which has been carried out continuously since last Wednesday at the Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Toledo and Ciudad Real, has now made it possible to identify all 69 deceased people,” it said in a statement.”
SupportedThe crash occurred on Wednesday 28 October when a Renfe train hit the rear of a stationary Iryo train near Urda, knocking two carriages off the track.7NEWS: “One ran into the tail of the other that was stopped, knocking two of its cars off the track.”
SupportedThe Urda crash was the second collision on the Madrid-Seville line this year; a January crash killed 46 people.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The crash in the province of Toledo came just nine months after another collision farther south on the same Madrid-Seville line killed 46 people.”
SupportedPuente said a computer failure was believed to have knocked out the signalling system, and called the subsequent order for the train to resume its journey “inexplicable”.7NEWS: “Spain’s transport minister said on Friday it is believed the crash occurred after a computer failure knocked out the signalling system but a subsequent control-centre order for the train to resume its journey was “inexplicable”.”
SupportedA funeral was held in Madrid on Monday for Dr Marta Shahbazi, a 41-year-old Cambridge scientist and mother of two who was travelling to collect a prize for scientific excellence.BBC News: “A funeral had been held in Madrid on Monday for the mother of two. “Hundreds of friends came from all over the world... because Marta was an amazing lab mate and amazing friend,” she said.”
SupportedShahbazi’s aunt said, “She was the friendliest person you can imagine, with lots of energy. She was a light for all of us.”BBC News: ““She was the friendliest person you can imagine, with lots of energy. She was a light for all of us.””
SupportedPuente announced a €30 million aid package for families of the dead and injured and said, “We pledge to work tirelessly to achieve and regain the public's trust in high-speed rail.”Euronews: “He also announced an aid package of €30 million for the families of the dead and the scores who were injured in Wednesday’s accident in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha. “We pledge to work tirelessly to achieve and regain the public’s trust in high-speed rail,” Óscar Puente told a press conference as he presented new measures to improve safety.”
