King Felipe and Queen Letizia attend funeral for 69 train crash victims in Toledo
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended a funeral Mass for the victims of the Urda train crash at Toledo Cathedral on Tuesday night, according to hellomagazine.com. The ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro, and attended by the five bishops of Castilla-La Mancha.
The royal couple greeted bishops outside the cathedral before entering through the King's Gate. Inside, they met with government officials, relatives of victims, and injured people. Queen Letizia hugged attendees and offered words of comfort.
Residents of Urda placed 69 candles near the altar, one for each person who died, and a 16th-century sculpture of Christ was brought from the town for the ceremony, according to africanews.com.
The crash involved a Renfe train and a stationary Iryo service near Urda on 28 October, leaving 69 people dead. Over 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains. It is Spain's second fatal high-speed rail accident this year and the country's worst rail accident since 2013, when an Alvia high-speed train derailed, leading to the deaths of 78 people.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia said in a statement: "We are moved and concerned by the train accident in Urda (Toledo). We share in the sorrow of the families and loved ones of the deceased and send our affection to the injured and those affected."
The statement continued: "Our support also goes to the emergency teams and all those working in the area to help as much as possible under these circumstances."
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not attend the funeral Mass, citing his refusal to attend religious ceremonies, according to africanews.com. The disaster prompted the resignations of the transport minister and the head of the railway operator, while European prosecutors have launched a fraud investigation into EU safety funds.