Spanish transport minister resigns after train crash killed 69 people

What the report says

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned on Tuesday, less than a week after a high-speed train collision in central Spain killed 69 people, according to Al Jazeera. He also said he would withdraw from the country’s upcoming general election. Puente said he could not stay in office after presiding over two major rail accidents in under a year.

The crash took place on Wednesday on the Madrid-Seville line in Castilla-La Mancha. Al Jazeera reported that a Renfe train struck a stationary train after a signal failure led to changes in control of the line. The collision involved a state-run train and a privately operated Iryo train, and came after a January derailment in Andalusia that killed 46 people.

Following the disaster, services on part of the line have been reduced while Spain’s Railway Safety Agency reviews the system and the government continues a delayed rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System. The transport ministry also said new safety measures, including an artificial intelligence tool to help detect anomalies and reduce human error, are planned.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a 30-million-euro aid package for victims and their families. The package includes direct assistance and advance compensation, as the government faces growing scrutiny over rail safety and accident prevention.