The key facts
- The memorial mass was attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and the country's top politicians
- The crash near Urda claimed 69 lives — the worst rail tragedy in Spain since 2013
- Transport Minister Carlos Cuerpo took office after the resignation of Oscar Puente
Mass in memory of the 69 victims
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia on Tuesday attended a memorial mass in memory of the 69 victims of the train crash that occurred last month on the Madrid — Seville line near the small town of Urda, about 40 miles from Toledo. The high-speed train rammed into a stationary train on the tracks. It is the worst rail tragedy in Spain since 2013; 28 people remain in hospital. This is reported by BBC News.
Who attended and what was said
Archbishop Cerro Chaves told the gathered that 'the tragic accident in Urda has left our families, our towns and our society with a pain that is hard to accept.' Relatives of the victims lit candles and placed them by the main altar; the first reading was given by Ana Benitez, sister of 38-year-old David Benitez, a father of two who died in the disaster. The royal couple were greeted with applause as they entered the cathedral and at the end of the service, after which they spoke with the victims' relatives.
Political context and strikes
The mass was attended by the leader of the opposition People's Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the president of Castile-La Mancha, Emiliano Garcia-Page, and the minister of transport and economy, Carlos Cuerpo, who took the transport portfolio after last week's resignation of Oscar Puente. Puente had come under mounting pressure after the disaster — the country's second major rail tragedy in a year: in January, 46 people died on the same high-speed line in Andalusia. According to Puente, the recent accident may have been caused by human error combined with a safety system failure; the investigation is ongoing. The tragedy came a month before the general election on November 29 and is believed to complicate the re-election of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The ceremony coincided with a nationwide train drivers' strike demanding greater rail safety; the following day, disruptions were expected due to a general strike organized by housing activists demanding urgent measures to control rental prices.
Image source, Getty Images Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were greeted by bishops as they arrived at the funeral mass on Tuesday
Image source, Reuters The Archbishop of Toledo officiated the memorial service
