In a solemn ceremony marked by grief and reflection, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia joined representatives from across the nation in a memorial service for the 69 victims who perished in a high-speed train collision near Toledo two weeks ago. The tragic incident took place on the Madrid-Seville line when one train collided with another that was stationary, resulting in Spain's deadliest rail disaster since 2013. As of now, 28 survivors continue their recovery in hospitals.
The moving service unfolded within a cathedral, where lit candles were placed by relatives of the deceased as a symbolic gesture of remembrance. The first reading was delivered by Ana Benítez, sister of David Benítez, one of the victims who left behind a family of two children. The royal couple was warmly received by onlookers as they entered the cathedral and later spoke with families of the victims following the service.
Among the high-ranking officials in attendance were opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President Emiliano García-Page of the Castilla-La Mancha region, and Transport and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo. Cuerpo took on his role after the resignation of Óscar Puente, who faced mounting pressure following the crash that occurred just a month before Spain's general election on November 29. The tragedy could potentially impact Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's re-election efforts.
Coincidentally, the memorial service took place on the same day as a nationwide strike by train drivers, who are advocating for increased safety measures on the rail network. Another general strike, led by housing activists demanding urgent action to control rental costs, was anticipated to impact rail services across the country on Wednesday. The investigation into the recent accident is still ongoing, with Puente suggesting that human error and a malfunction in the safety system may have contributed to the disaster.