Death toll rises to 68 in two train collisions in Spain

The death toll from two high-speed train collisions in central Spain has risen to 68. Dozens of other people were injured in the incident. The accident took place on Wednesday morning when a train from the capital Madrid to Seville hit another train standing on the track. Due to the intensity of the collision, some coaches derailed and fell down the slope.

Spain's transport minister said the accident was caused by a computer system error followed by human error. It is one of the worst train accidents in modern European history. It is the deadliest train accident in Spain in 13 years.

Surviving passengers gave a harrowing account of the crash. They said that the passengers fell down during the collision. Many were trapped in the wreckage of the compartment. Some broke windows to save their lives.

The accident happened shortly after 9am on Wednesday (October 28), about 140 kilometers south of Madrid, between the municipalities of Moro and Orgaz.

Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente said there were 147 passengers on a train belonging to private rail operator Erio. The train was halted on the track due to a computer system error.

He said that the 24-hour control center located in Madrid takes responsibility in case of such system errors. But the trains were ordered to move again without setting any speed limit from the control center. He commented that why such a decision was taken is inexplicable.

Erio said a train from Spain's state rail operator Renof hit their train from behind. There were 397 passengers in that Renof train.

Renof train passenger Salvador Ariza, 62, described the intensity of the collision as 'terrifying'. Passengers started breaking windows to get out, he told Reuters. Some were stuck in seats and could not move.

A compartment caught fire in the accident. Passengers said the sight of people trapped in the rubble, crying, bloodied passengers and debris strewn around was heartbreaking.

Antonio Jimenez Barca, a journalist from Spain's El Pais newspaper, was on his way to Renoff's train restaurant when the accident happened. He said that he felt a sudden push from behind. He then fell to the ground.

He said, "I was hit hard on the head. I was covered in blood. Another person was lying on top of me. One was injured in the hand and another in the head.

Many passengers said they were mentally disturbed after the accident. A passenger broke down in tears while giving an interview to a local television channel. He said that a woman died in his arms.

Visiting the accident site, the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, said, "The whole of Spain is saddened." Many people's lives are shattered, families are broken. This pain is infinite.

Expressing grief over the incident, most of Spain's political parties canceled their scheduled election campaign programs for Wednesday.