Spain train crash ’cause’ revealed after 42 killed | World | News
A preliminary report into the horrific train crash which killed more than 40 people in Spain has been released. On January 18, the tail end of an evening train from Malaga to Madrid went off the rails near Cordoba at 7.45pm and slammed into another train coming from Madrid to Huelva.
The Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF) has now said that damage was detected in the treads of the wheels on cars two, three, four, and five of the Iryo train to Madrid. These nicks and the “deformation” in the track “are consistent with the rail being fractured”, it explained. The CIAF added that “does not rule out any hypothesis” on what caused this.
The horrifying crash left people trapped in the train cars as others resorted to smashing windows to escape. A total of 42 people died, and around 150 more were injured.
Bianca Birleanu was travelling on the Alvia train from Madrid to Huelva when the collision occurred. The 23-year-old said she and her partner Jorge Garcia “felt the first jolt and, in a fraction of a second, another very strong one”.
She told El Pais: “The table in front of our seat fell on top of us, the lights went out, and the carriage roof collapsed.”
Mr Garcia added: “Carriage number two was all rubble, a mangled mess. And the other one was also badly damaged, everything was destroyed.”
An anonymous passenger described the horrifying screams and chaos that ensued. They told TVE: “There were people screaming, their bags fell from the shelves. I was travelling to Huelva in the fourth carriage, the last, luckily.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called it a “painful day” for Spain during his press conference, and promised to get to the bottom of what caused the crash.
He said: “We will get to the truth, we will find the answers. We will inform you clearly and in full transparency, and we will make that information available to the public.
“In the meantime, I can guarantee to the victims and their families, we will protect you. We will assist and support you in any way you need, for as long as you need.”
