00:00In Spain, at least 68 people have died and more than 100 have been injured in a collision between two
00:06high-speed trains near the town of Urda in the province of Toledo.
00:10Emergency crews continue to work at the scene while authorities investigate the causes of the accident.
00:16Our correspondent, Álvaro Fragua, has more details.
00:20The accident occurred shortly before 9.00 AME, near Urda.
00:25A Renfe Ave train traveling from Madrid to Seville rear ended an Aireo train that was stationary on the same
00:32track.
00:33Several cars derailed and two fell down an embankment.
00:37Hundreds of personnel participated in the rescue efforts, which will continue throughout the night.
00:44Canine search units will be deployed first to determine if there are any victims.
00:50And then, the search and rescue efforts will continue throughout this afternoon, tonight, and for as many days as necessary
01:00to complete the rescue of any additional deceased victims.
01:06Initial investigations point to a failure in the Lesbi safety system that forced several trains to stop.
01:13According to the transportation minister, the control center later authorized the Ave to resume normal operation, even though the Aireo
01:21train remained stationary,
01:22a chain of errors for which the opposition is demanding explanations from the government.
01:28Spain has a right to know what is happening with its infrastructure, what condition the tracks and safety systems are
01:36in.
01:36For his part, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has traveled to the accident site, where he expressed his condolences to the
01:44families and promised to determine who is responsible.
01:48And we will see this through to the end.
01:51If there has been negligence, it will be brought to light.
01:54And if there have been failures in the security system, they will be addressed with the utmost determination.
02:00In Erda, Neighborhood Solidarity has joined forces with emergency services.
02:05The sports center and a school have been set up to assist survivors and their families.
02:10Among those affected is Antonio, who managed to get off the train on his own and return to help other
02:15injured passengers.
02:17I got out on my own.
02:20We climbed down a slope, helping those who were more impaired.
02:26And rescue crews have been arriving.
02:29Although I went to car 7 to help get the injured out.
02:33We made improvised stretchers out of fiberglass.
02:37And with four or six of us, we removed the injured from car 7 of the AVE.
02:43Spain begins three days of official mourning for the victims of one of the worst train accidents in its history.
02:50While rescue efforts continue, the priority is to assist those affected and clarify what happened to prevent such a situation
02:58from happening again.
02:59Alvaro Fragua, reporting from Toledo for Talisha.
