Toledo train crash: 69 dead as opposition demands Sánchez face parliament

The death toll from the train crash near Urda in the province of Toledo stands at 69, with more than 100 people injured. The independent accident investigation authority AITAT classified the crash as "serious" and said all lines of inquiry remain open. According to the authority, an AVE high-speed train carrying 379 passengers and seven crew struck a stationary Iryo train with 147 passengers from behind, at an estimated 160 to 200 kph. The exact speed will only be known once the on-board recorder is analyzed, and train drivers and traffic controllers are not yet fit to be interviewed.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente will appear at his own request before Congress's Permanent Deputation on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The People's Party (PP) is also demanding an urgent appearance by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. "The responsibilities do not end with Óscar Puente. Sánchez was the one who appointed him and keeps him in his position," the PP parliamentary group wrote. Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said political responsibilities are "not optional." The Basque PNV, a government ally, also called for "technical and political responsibilities at the highest level" to be assumed. Vox has filed a criminal complaint against the minister.

The crash comes a month before the snap general election on Nov. 29. A poll by El Mundo published Oct. 26 put the PP at 30.6 percent, ahead of the Socialists (PSOE) at 26.1 percent and Vox at 19.9 percent. Sánchez pledged to clarify "every last detail" and said it was unacceptable for a country like Spain to suffer two high-speed train accidents in a single year. Spain is observing three days of national mourning through Saturday.