作者： admin

Spain has initiated three days of national mourning following the country’s most devastating rail disaster in over a decade. The catastrophic collision between two high-speed trains near Adamuz in southern Andalusia has resulted in 40 confirmed fatalities, with the death toll potentially rising as rescue operations continue.

The tragedy occurred Sunday evening when an Iryo-operated train traveling from Malaga to Madrid inexplicably derailed and crossed onto adjacent tracks, colliding with an oncoming Renfe service headed to Huelva. The impact caused both trains to derail in a devastating chain of events that rescue officials describe as one of the most complex emergency responses in recent Spanish history.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who visited the crash site Monday, characterized the event as “a day of sorrow for all of Spain” while promising absolute transparency in the investigation. Emergency crews utilizing heavy machinery worked through the night to lift severely damaged carriages and access trapped victims.

Current figures indicate over 120 injured persons, with 41 remaining hospitalized in Córdoba medical facilities. Distressed relatives have turned to social media platforms to locate missing passengers, sharing photographs and personal details in desperate attempts to find loved ones.

Investigative authorities have described the accident as “extremely strange” given several mitigating factors. Unlike the 2013 Santiago de Compostela disaster that claimed 80 lives, this derailment occurred on a straight section of recently renovated track with both trains operating within legal speed limits. The involved Iryo locomotive was manufactured in 2022 and underwent inspection just three days prior to the accident.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed that human error and excessive speed have been largely ruled out as causative factors. Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia suggested the investigation should focus on either Iryo’s rolling stock or infrastructure anomalies, noting both trains were traveling approximately 200 km/h—well below the 250 km/h limit for that section.

Survivor accounts depict scenes of horror and chaos. Passenger Lucas Meriako described the impact as “a very strong hit from behind” that created the sensation “the whole train was about to collapse,” with numerous injuries resulting from shattered glass throughout the carriages.

The tragedy has mobilized international response, with condolences offered by Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron. Local residents of Adamuz immediately organized relief efforts, delivering water, blankets, and essential supplies to emergency crews working at the disaster site.

Spain maintains Europe’s most extensive high-speed rail network, with over 3,000 kilometers of dedicated tracks connecting major urban centers. This incident represents the most significant safety challenge to the system’s otherwise exemplary safety record, prompting nationwide scrutiny of rail infrastructure and operational protocols.

A devastating explosion ripped through a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday, resulting in at least seven fatalities and multiple injuries, prompting a formal diplomatic demand from Beijing for enhanced protection of its citizens. The attack, which occurred in the heavily secured Shahr-e-Naw district, has been claimed by the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS).

According to officials, the victims included six Afghan nationals and one Chinese citizen. The blast originated near the kitchen of the ‘Chinese Noodle’ restaurant, which operated beneath a guesthouse. Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police, confirmed the details while noting that the precise nature of the explosion remains under active investigation, contradicting IS’s swift claim of responsibility.

In response to the tragedy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing has made urgent representations to the Taliban-led government. China demanded comprehensive medical care for the injured and the implementation of more robust measures to safeguard Chinese nationals residing in or traveling to Afghanistan. The government subsequently issued a renewed advisory, urging its citizens to avoid travel to the country.

Humanitarian organization EMERGENCY reported receiving 20 casualties at its local hospital. Dejan Panic, the group’s Afghanistan director, confirmed that seven individuals were declared dead upon arrival, with the injured including four women and a child. Social media footage and eyewitness accounts described a scene of severe destruction, with a large section of the building torn open and a vehicle outside completely obliterated. Local residents assisted in transporting critically wounded individuals to medical facilities, and white sheets were later erected to conceal the damaged structure.

The targeted establishment, which primarily served the Chinese Muslim community, was operated by an ethnic Uyghur businessman from China’s Xinjiang region, his wife, and an Afghan partner. In its official statement, the local IS branch explicitly cited China’s policies in Xinjiang as motivation, placing the country ‘on the list’ of its targets due to alleged ‘crimes against the oppressed Uyghur Muslims.’ The Chinese government has consistently denied all accusations of human rights abuses in the region.

This incident marks a continuation of violence against Chinese interests in the area. IS previously claimed an attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul in 2022, and six Chinese nationals were killed in separate incidents in neighboring Tajikistan just last November, leading to further security advisories from Beijing.