A RESIGNATION AFTER THE WRECKAGE! Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned — six days after the high-speed train collision near Urda that killed at least 69 people and injured dozens, the BBC reported.
He announced the decision in Congress on Tuesday evening after outlining new rail safety measures and facing opposition grilling. “A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year,” Puente said, also citing a deadly January crash in Andalusia.
The Urda disaster happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of a stationary Iryo train. Leaked audio published in Spanish media appears to show Madrid’s control centre clearing one high-speed train to move even though another had stopped about 25km (15 miles) ahead.
Puente said he decided to go immediately after the 28 October crash. Opposition parties and some government allies had pressed him to step down. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has vowed authorities will “get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy.”
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Bugle Blast.
Sources: BBC News
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