DFA: No Filipinos hurt in back-to-back Spain deadly train crash

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Thursday that no Filipinos were hurt in the deadly back-to-back train crashes in Spain, which killed more than 40 people and injured nearly 200.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Madrid announced that no Filipinos were identified among those injured or killed in the collision of two high-speed trains in Adamuz in Cordoba province, on Sunday, though they are still closely coordinating with the Spanish authorities and train operators for updates.

The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, meanwhile, said that as of press time, there was no information indicating that Filipino nationals were affected by the train crash near Barcelona on Tuesday.

“The Embassy and the Consulate General stand ready to assist any Filipino nationals who may have been affected by these incidents,” the DFA assured.

Barcelona’s Tuesday crash killed a 27-year-old trainee driver and injured 37 people, five of whom are reportedly in a critical condition.

A collapsed retaining wall that fell onto the tracks between Gelida and Sant Sadurní caused the deadly crash in 

Catalonia in northeastern Spain, involving a commuter train around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Local officials attributed the collapse to heavy rainfall that battered this week, following months of drought. 

The incident came two days after two high-speed trains collided in Adamuz, Andalucía, around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, killing at least 43 people and leaving 152 injured. 

Reports stated that one of the trains bound for Madrid derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, where a high-speed train was approaching. 

The Sunday’s crash was described as the worst rail incident recorded in more than a decade.