$24 million in compensation for victims of the high-speed train accident in Spain

Madrid, Spain – The Spanish government announced Tuesday that it will pay €20 million ($24 million) in compensation to the families of the victims of the high-speed train crash that occurred on January 18 near the city of Adamos, south of Cordoba. The accident killed 45 people and injured more than 150 others.

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said that the families will receive €216,000 for each deceased victim. This compensation will be divided into €72,000 in tax-free government aid and €72,000 in advance insurance payouts. In addition, they will receive another €72,000 from mandatory passenger travel insurance. He added that payments to the injured will range from €2,400 to €84,000, depending on the severity of their injuries.

Puente noted that the usual legal procedures can take years, which is incompatible with the scale of this tragedy. He emphasized that the government is committed to providing swift support to alleviate the burden on the victims and their families.

This accident is one of the deadliest in the history of modern European trains. It was also the deadliest train accident in Spain since 2013. The derailment of two trains led to a major disaster. Emergency teams worked for hours to rescue the injured and secure the accident site.

The accident has intensified public and political pressure on the Spanish government, and the Minister of Transport in particular. This pressure has come amid calls for the resignation of officials who failed to ensure the safety of high-speed trains, especially after additional accidents occurred in the same week, though without fatalities.

Puente assured reporters that he is doing his best and is committed to providing the public with all available information. He also pledged to continue the investigations to prevent such disasters from happening again.

With these swift compensations, Spain aims to send a clear message that protecting civilians and respecting their rights is a top priority for the government. The investigation into the causes of the accident continues to ensure the safety of high-speed rail in the country.