Grieving Spain demands answers for latest rail disaster

Spain is demanding answers following its second high-speed train collision this year, which killed 69 people and injured many others. The disaster struck south of Madrid on Wednesday morning when a train operated by state operator Renfe collided with a stationary train belonging to private Spanish company Iryo. Manuel San Emeterio, whose brother is missing, traveled to Toledo to provide DNA samples to the Civil Guard.

The uncertainty is causing immense distress for families desperate to learn the fate of their loved ones. Toledo has received 52 of the bodies, exceeding the morgue's capacity of 30, and the army has set up an improvised facility. Forensics experts, sniffer dogs, and thermal drones are searching for bodies at the crash site. The death toll rose to 69 on Thursday, with victims including former Labour Minister Fatima Banez.

Flags flew at half-mast, and official ceremonies were canceled or scaled back during the first of three days of national mourning. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged to establish every detail of the tragedy and strengthen safety measures. Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated that an automatic control system had failed, causing all trains to be stopped, but the control center resumed traffic, which he described as inexplicable.

The head of the train driver union, Diego Martin, criticized the focus on finding culprits, stating that workers were using degraded systems. Renfe train drivers continued a strike to defend rail safety, affecting 26.6 percent of the concerned staff.