Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez says trust in high-speed rail system is 'broken'

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government is investigating the causes of the train accident in Toledo and promised solutions to "strengthen" the high-speed rail system.

"Trust in the high-speed rail system has been broken," Sánchez said after taking part in a meeting at the coordination center in Urda, in the province of Toledo, where the accident happened.

He said it is unacceptable for a country like Spain to have two train accidents of this magnitude in a single year, referring also to the accident in Adamuz which occurred in January. 

"The government's task is not only to determine the causes but also to provide solutions so that a tragedy of this scale never happens again," he said.

Sánchez gave a statement without taking questions. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to the victims and their families, who are "experiencing a situation of extreme anxiety" as they wait for answers from authorities about the fate of their loved ones.

"All branches of the State are working tirelessly to provide as much information as possible, as quickly as possible, to the families," he said, adding that the central government and other authorities are providing material, human and psychological support to people enduring "unimaginable circumstances." 

"This commitment is real," Sánchez said. "It is currently being fulfilled, and we will continue to uphold it as the identification of the victims progresses."

Sánchez also said the victims are of as many as 27 nationalities. He said the government is coordinating with all the affected consulates so they have information that is "as detailed as possible."

Death toll and injured 

The death toll for the accident remains at 69, but Emiliano García-Page, president of the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, said authorities do not rule out that it could rise. 

He said human remains found in the area of the accident are still being analyzed, and that the process of identifying the victims is "complex." So far, authorities have received 70 missing-person reports.

A total of 39 people remain injured since the rail accident, currently hospitalized in Castilla-La Mancha. 17 of them are in intensive care units (ICUs).

A total of 110 injured people were admitted to hospitals in Castilla-La Mancha. Of those, 71 have been discharged. 

García-Page, who appeared together with Sánchez, thanked the shows of support received and the collaboration from all the autonomous communities. 

"It is good that citizens know that in moments of pain there is a lot of solidarity", he said.