Spain mourns after latest train tragedy kills 68

Spain began three days of mourning on Oct 29 after its second high-speed rail collision in 2026 killed 68 people and injured scores, with relatives desperately seeking news about their loved ones.



One of Europe's deadliest train disasters this century has raised fresh questions about safety on Spain's rail network after the transport minister reported an "error" and "inexplicable circumstances" that led to the crash.



The collision happened in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha in the morning on Oct 28 when a service by state operator Renfe ploughed into the back of a stationary train belonging to private Spanish company Iryo.



Emergency services combed through the wreckage at night to find further victims on the key line linking Madrid with the southern city of Seville, hoisting pieces of mangled metal with cranes, AFP reporters saw.



The latest disaster comes one month before Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez seeks to overturn unfavourable polls and extend his eight-year premiership in an early general election on Nov 29.