Protests erupt in Madrid following deadly train collision that killed 69

MADRID, Oct 29 (OPA) — Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Transport in Madrid on Wednesday evening, demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Transport Minister Oscar Puente. The demonstration, which began near Nuevos Ministerios, escalated into clashes as police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Demonstrators chanted slogans blaming government leadership for the disaster, which marks the third major railway accident in Spain this year.

Audio recordings from the control center, captured minutes before the 8:53 a.m. collision, reveal that operators authorized the Renfe train to proceed despite a known signal failure. The Iryo train driver had reported an LZB safety system malfunction at the Urda entry signal at 8:41 a.m. and again at 8:48 a.m. Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated that the control center’s decision to resume traffic under these conditions was inexplicable, noting that the Renfe train traveled 25 kilometers before striking the stationary vessel.

Emergency crews continued recovery operations at the crash site near Urda on Thursday, where three carriages derailed. The death toll rose to 69, with over 100 people injured. Survivors described the impact as apocalyptic, with wreckage mangled to the point of resembling a bomb site. A separate incident occurred on Thursday when a train near Toledo became stranded in a tunnel due to an electrical failure, forcing the evacuation of 454 passengers.

Spain observed a day of mourning on Thursday, with flags flying at half-mast and official events scaled back. Red Cross psychologists are providing support to survivors and families at a makeshift center in Urda. While the government faces intense political pressure, hard-right groups including Revuelta have called for further nationwide demonstrations to protest the handling of the rail network's safety protocols.