Australians Affected by Deadly Spanish Train Crash
Two Australians are receiving consular assistance following a devastating train collision in Spain that killed 69 people and injured nearly 200.
The collision occurred Wednesday near the town of Urda, approximately 130 kilometers south of Madrid. Authorities stated that no further victims were expected to be found at the scene.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed on Friday that consular assistance was being provided to the families of two Australians in connection with the crash. "Our heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones of those killed, and with those injured and all affected by the train collision in Spain," a spokesperson said.
Australian government frontbencher Jason Clare had previously stated on Thursday that consular officials were on standby to assist any Australians or their families affected by the incident. "The whole country is in shock at the moment, seeing these images on our screens. It's just horrific," Clare told ABC TV.
More than 500 people were on board when a train operated by state-owned rail company Renfe collided with the rear of a stationary train operated by Iryo, a private company. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, with dozens of vehicles visible in aerial views. 
Spanish authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with a focus on the potential failure of the automatic train protection system and possible errors by the rail control center in Madrid. Audio recordings of interactions between train drivers and the control center have been published by the media.
"We are working day and night not only to support the victims' families, but also to establish every last detail of this tragedy and strengthen safety measures to ensure it never happens again," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Clare drew a parallel to Sydney's Granville train disaster in January 1977, which resulted in 83 deaths and 213 injuries. That incident occurred when a peak-hour commuter train derailed, causing a road bridge to collapse onto two of its carriages. "Every year we get back together at the same site, and I meet people who were in that awful disaster, whose lives were changed and transformed," he said. "This is something people never, ever recover from."