Canadian and four Americans among 69 killed in Spanish train crash
Authorities have identified 66 of the 69 victims from last week's collision in Toledo province.
MADRID · Spanish authorities confirmed late Sunday that a Canadian and four American citizens were among the 69 people killed in a high-speed train collision last week. The crash occurred last Wednesday in the province of Toledo when one train slammed into another that had stopped on the tracks. Officials said they have now identified 66 of the victims. The majority of those who died, 54 people, were Spanish nationals.
Three bodies remain unidentified, authorities said. Three people are also reported missing, identified as two Australians and one Japanese national. Other foreign nationals confirmed among the dead include one person each from France, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Tunisia and the Czech Republic. Nosy Mag reported in October that a Canadian was unaccounted for after the crash that killed at least 68 people.
How has this affected Spain's rail network?
This is the second major collision on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line in nine months. A crash farther south on the same line earlier this year killed 46 people. The back-to-back disasters have severely shaken public confidence in a rail network previously celebrated for its speed and safety. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged a full investigation and system improvements to restore trust. The rail system carried approximately 45 million travellers last year, including millions of tourists. Sánchez said the government's goal is to rebuild faith in this critical infrastructure. The latest crash places the safety record of Spanish railways under intense scrutiny just weeks before a national election.
What is the political fallout?
The collision occurred one month before a Nov. 29 general election where Sánchez is seeking to extend his eight-year premiership. He now faces direct questions about railway safety and the level of infrastructure investment during his time in office. The opposition is likely to use the tragedy to challenge the government's management of public transportation. With the second fatal crash in less than a year, the political debate over transportation safety has become urgent. The prime minister's response to the investigation and his proposed safety reforms will be closely watched by voters. The election campaign will now unfold against a backdrop of national mourning and demands for accountability.
With files from Global News, The Globe and Mail and CityNews