Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned, six days after a devastating high-speed train collision that killed at least 69 people and left dozens injured.
Puente announced his departure during a parliamentary session in Madrid, where he had been questioned about the circumstances surrounding the October 28 disaster near Urda, south of the capital.
Explaining his decision, he said a transport minister in a country like Spain could not remain in office after two accidents of such severity within less than a year. He also referred to a deadly rail crash in Andalusia in January.
The latest tragedy occurred when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train crashed into the rear of a stationary train operated by private company Iryo.
Puente said he had made the decision to resign shortly after the collision but waited several days before making it public. His departure came amid growing pressure from opposition parties and some members of the governing coalition, who had called for him to step down.
During his final parliamentary appearance, the minister outlined additional rail safety measures before facing questions from opposition lawmakers.
Meanwhile, leaked audio recordings published by Spanish media have raised further questions about the events leading up to the crash. Conversations between train drivers and a control centre appear to indicate that one high-speed train received permission to proceed despite another train having stopped on the track approximately 25 kilometres ahead.
The recordings have intensified scrutiny of railway communications and safety procedures as investigators work to establish exactly what happened.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged a thorough investigation, promising that authorities will examine every detail of the tragedy.
The resignation marks another major development in the aftermath of the disaster, which has triggered public grief, political criticism and renewed debate over Spain’s railway safety systems.
