Concerns for welfare of two Australians after Spanish train crash
Consular assistance was being provided to the family of the Australians in connection with the collision, DFAT said.
A Spanish high-speed train crashed this week, killing 69 people in the deadliest accident since 2013. The driver, Antonio Acedo, had previously warned about the "shocking deterioration" of the country's railway infrastructure. The crash involved a collision between two trains, with Acedo's train traveling at over 160 kph and derailing the other train.
Spanish media released audio recordings of the final moments before the crash, where Acedo was instructed to restart his train at full speed despite a second immobilized train in front of him. Railway unions have accused a failing system, not human error, as the cause of the accident. The driver's political activism over infrastructure issues may have been a factor, with his party founder calling the government's handling of the crash "intolerable."
As a result, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's re-election bid has been soured, with opposition parties calling for his resignation. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with a preliminary report indicating a rail fracture.
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- Train driver killed in Spanish rail crash warned of impending disaster thenationalnews.com
- Spanish rescue workers search for any survivors in high-speed rail crash, with 69 dead cbc.ca
- Breaking: DFAT trying to confirm welfare of two Australians involved in Spanish train crash abc.net.au
- Concerns for welfare of two Australians after Spanish train crash smh.com.au
