A devastating train crash in southern Spain has resulted in at least 43 casualties, leaving families in mourning and seeking answers about the horrific incident. Eyewitness accounts reveal the trauma experienced by hospital staff and the deep emotional impact on the victims' families.

A high-speed train disaster in southern Spain claimed the lives of at least 43 individuals, with victims identified as loved ones increasingly grapple with their grief. Hospital staff reacted swiftly to the crisis, but many questions remain about the cause of the collision. Victims' families seek closure as authorities initiate investigations.

Loved ones of victims reeling after high-speed rail crash in southern Spain

Eduardo Morán, a doctor at Córdoba's Reina Sofía Hospital, suspected it was serious. He and his wife, also a medic, had been asked to head to work after reports that two high-speed trains had collided nearby.

We were preparing different parts of the hospital, he recalls. Not just the emergency room, but the intensive care unit, all the surgery theatres and the regular floor. Everybody was there. As patients arrived, staff prioritized treatment for various injuries. Despite the horrific influx, Eduardo noted that the hospital was not overwhelmed.

At least 43 people lost their lives in the horrific crash, and investigators are examining a gap in the railway track as a potential cause. Eyewitnesses reported seeing sniffer dogs searching through the wreckage in dense woodland 36 miles from Córdoba, desperately seeking answers about Spain's deadliest rail disaster in over a decade.

The crash's impact was felt far beyond the train tracks. Among the deceased was María del Carmen Abril, who was returning from a surprise birthday party when the accident occurred. Her friend Jose Manuel Muñoz expressed his grief, highlighting the wish to celebrate life followed by the shock of loss. We spent one day celebrating life... then we get the confirmation that she's dead.

Yamilei, another family member affected by the tragedy, is still searching for answers after her brother-in-law, Victor Luis Terán, was confirmed dead following a last-minute change in his travel plans. That's all we want. Because we can't do it any more, she said, echoing the sentiments of many who are grappling with the emotional fallout from this disaster.

As authorities investigate the causes behind the crash, calls for patience continue amidst another incident in the Spanish rail system. A second train derailment near Barcelona days later has opened up discussions about the safety of the rail network, prompting union protests over deteriorating conditions.

Additional reporting by Marianne Baisnée and Marta Jimenez