Spanish rescuers search train wreckage for survivors after 68 killed in collision

On Thursday, rescuers scrambled through the wreckage of Spain's second high-speed train crash in a year, seeking survivors in the wake of a disaster that has claimed 68 lives. Emergency personnel were seen lifting parts of the debris and a body wrapped in a blanket from a rural area in the province of Toledo. Rescue teams remained cautious, acknowledging that it was still uncertain if more victims were trapped in the twisted wreckage.

Esther Padilla, a spokeswoman for the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, stated that a canine unit was deployed to search for additional victims. Police confirmed that the crash occurred when one high-speed train collided with another, causing several trains to stop automatically due to a signal failure. Despite this, a state-run Renfe train was allowed to proceed at normal speed, even though a stationary train operated by Iryo was in front of it.

Train drivers, representing SEMAF, had planned a strike to demand increased investment in railway safety, following what is now Europe's deadliest train accident since a 2013 derailment in Santiago de Compostela. The crash has disrupted campaigning for an upcoming November 29 snap election, with both main political parties suspending campaign events.

The government declared three days of national mourning for the victims, and the leaders of Spain's two main parties, Pedro Sanchez and Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, were scheduled to travel to the crash site.