Spain’s interior minister ruled out sabotage as a cause in a train crash that killed 41 people and injured over 120.
Minister Dismisses Sabotage Theory
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that sabotage was never considered as a possibility in the train crash. He noted that the Railway Accident Investigation Commission is in the preliminary phase of collecting data and identifying key elements, with all hypotheses remaining open.
Media Focus on Track Failure
According to Spanish media, the investigation is concentrating on a track failure. The newspaper “El Mundo” reported that the cause could have been faulty connections between track elements, resulting in a break in the railway line. Minister of Transport Oscar Puente previously stated it was not yet possible to determine if track damage was the cause or effect of the crash.
Previous Track Concerns Raised
The Spanish Train Drivers’ Union SEMAF had previously signaled infrastructure manager ADIF about irregularities on the high-speed Madrid-Seville-Malaga line. In an August letter, drivers mentioned local track wear, including on the section where the tragic collision occurred. The union highlighted cracks in the tracks and an unstable overhead line system causing failures and train damage.
Deadly Crash Details
In the high-speed train collision near Adamuz in southern Spain, 41 people died and over 120 were injured, with 13 in critical condition. Spain has declared three days of national mourning. Preliminary findings indicate that three rear carriages of one train derailed and collided with an oncoming train, with some carriages then sliding down a multi-meter embankment.
The trains involved were an Iryo traveling from Malaga to Madrid and an Alvia on the Madrid-Huelva route.
