Spain's king and queen attend memorial service for rail crash victims

What the report says

Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended a memorial service in Madrid for the 69 people killed in last month’s train crash near Toledo, according to BBC World News. The ceremony was held about two weeks after the collision on the Madrid-Seville line, when one high-speed train hit another that was stationary near Urda, around 40 miles from Toledo. BBC World News said 28 people were still being treated in hospital.

The service brought together families of the victims, bishops and senior officials. Representatives of those who died carried candles to the altar, and a relative of one victim read part of the service. The king and queen were greeted by applause as they arrived and later met relatives after the Catholic Mass. Archbishop Cerro Chaves led the memorial and spoke of the pain caused to families and communities.

The crash is being treated as Spain’s worst rail disaster since 2013. An investigation is continuing, and the BBC reported that authorities have not yet reached a final conclusion on the cause. Transport Minister Carlos Cuerpo attended after taking over the portfolio following Óscar Puente’s resignation. The memorial also came amid broader concern about rail safety, with train drivers striking the same day over safety demands. The incident has added pressure on the government ahead of a general election next month.