King Felipe honours victims of deadly Spanish train disaster at Madrid summit

Spain’s King Felipe has paid tribute to victims of last week’s train disaster in Urda, telling the Ibero-American summit in Madrid that the tragedy had left the country in mourning and shock.

At the opening of the meeting on Wednesday, Felipe and Queen Letizia sent their condolences to the injured and to the families, friends and communities of those killed. He also thanked emergency services and others who helped, and acknowledged condolences sent from around the world. Delegates observed a minute’s silence.

Earlier that day, Felipe had mourned Fátima Báñez, one of the victims, at a business meeting held alongside the summit. Báñez had served for seven years as Spain’s minister for employment and social security. Felipe said she would have attended the gathering.

At least 69 people died in the crash on the Madrid–Seville route, according to the report. It was Spain’s second deadly rail disaster this year: 46 people were killed in a January collision between two high-speed trains on the same route.