Concern for two Australians unaccounted for after Spain train crash
Two Australians are unaccounted for after the deadly train crash in central Spain.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to nine.com.au that it was seeking to confirm the whereabouts of the two Australians.
The death toll of Spain’s second high-speed rail disaster this year stands at 69. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
“Our heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones of those killed, with those injured and all affected by the train collision in Spain,” a spokesperson said.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of two Australians in connection to the collision.”
“Australian officials are working with local authorities to confirm the welfare of the Australians. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
The death toll of Spain's second high-speed rail disaster this year stands at 69.
Search teams with sniffer dogs continued to look for victims on Thursday, a day after the collision. Cranes shifted the carriages as police and soldiers picked through the wreckage strewn down the gravel slope where at least three train carriages were tossed by the impact.
The regional leader of Castilla La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, said 50 people remained hospitalised, while officials worked with family members to identify the dead.
“As a society, we have once again suffered a devastating blow, and we must adopt measures so that this doesn’t happen again,” Spain’s King Felipe VI said after visiting injured passengers at a hospital in Toledo.
Spain’s government declared three days of mourning starting on Thursday. A minute of silence was held at various points at noon, including with politicians outside the parliament and by rail workers and union leaders in Madrid's main train station.
Cranes shifted the carriages as police and soldiers picked through the wreckage strewn down the gravel slope where at least three train carriages were tossed by the impact. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
Testimonies of survivors filled Spanish television for a second day. Pablo López, who was on the train that was hit from behind, recounted the moment of impact and the horrific aftermath to state broadcaster TVE.
“The image I have in my head is of a person crawling on the ground after being shot out of the other train,” he said.
- reported with the Associated Press
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