Kuwait offers condolences to Spain after Toledo train collision

Three days of mourning began in Spain on Thursday following a second high-speed rail collision that claimed 68 lives and left many injured. The disaster, Europe's deadliest train accident in the current century, has sparked questions about the safety of Spain's rail network. The accident occurred in central Castilla-La Mancha when a Renfe train struck a stationary train operated by private company Iryo.

Emergency services worked through the night to rescue victims from the crash site on a crucial route connecting Madrid to Seville. Among the victims was Josimar Medina, a 31-year-old Peruvian holidaying in Spain with his girlfriend, who recounted the harrowing experience of being thrown from the Renfe train. Pablo Mejia, 42, survived with head injuries, crediting a last-minute seat change for his survival.

Relatives gathered at a school in Urda, about 80 miles south of Madrid, to inquire about their loved ones and receive support from Red Cross workers. The Civil Guard has established offices in Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, and Seville to help families provide DNA samples for identification and offer blood donation points. Transport Minister Oscar Puente revealed an automatic control system failure on 43 miles of track, leading to the trains' suspension.

However, the control center decided to resume traffic in circumstances deemed "inexplicable" by Puente. The tragedy follows a similar incident in January when two high-speed trains collided in Andalusia, killing 46 people, with the investigation still ongoing.