Spanish transport minister refuses to resign over second major train crash on his watch
Spain’s transport minister on Friday rejected calls for his resignation over the second train accident on his watch to cause mass casualties this year, as authorities worked to identify the victims from a crash that left at least 69 dead. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum this week condemned Transport Minister Oscar Puente for attributing Wednesday’s crash to a break in protocol by…
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente has firmly refused calls for his resignation in the wake of a second major train crash under his watch, leaving at least 69 dead. The crash near Urda, central Spain, occurred when a high-speed train collided with a stationary one, moving at speeds between 160 and 200 kph. Despite criticism, Puente blamed the incident on protocol breaches by control center operators rather than accepting responsibility.
This comes after a similar accident in January, which claimed 46 lives. The accident has reignited debates about safety and maintenance on Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network, as the country prepares for elections in November. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed to uncover the cause of the accident, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of two such tragedies in a single year.
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