A young girl, just six years old, has lost her parents, brother, and cousin in a devastating high-speed rail crash in Spain that claimed the lives of at least 40 people.
The tragedy unfolded in Adamuz, near the city of Córdoba, at around 6.40pm local time on Sunday when one train derailed and crossed over onto another track, with a second train colliding with the wreckage, leaving Brits warned to take special measures when travelling in Spain.
Juan Manuel Moreno, head of the regional government of Andalucia, confirmed that the death toll had climbed to 40 on Monday night, adding that it would take 24-48 hours "to know with certainty how many deaths have resulted from this terrible accident."
While a source told Reuters that a broken joint had been found on the track, officials have yet to confirm the cause of the accident.
Young survivor recovering with grandmother
Earlier reports suggested that the girl's brother had been found in hospital, but Jose Carlos Hernandez Casino, mayor of Punta Umbria near Huelva, later confirmed that the boy had died along with the girl's parents, Jose Zamorano and Cristina Alvarez, and their cousin Felix Zamorano.
The family was returning from a trip to the Spanish capital, where they had seen the Lion King musical and watched Real Madrid beat Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The six-year-old girl, who escaped uninjured, was looked after by a police officer overnight and is now recovering with her grandmother in a hotel in Cordoba after receiving three stitches for a head wound. It remains unclear if she is aware of her family's fate.
Town declares three days of mourning
Mayor Casino declared three days of official mourning in Punta Umbria, expressing deep sadness and pain while holding out hope for two residents still missing. Flags will fly at half-mast on municipal buildings, and all planned institutional events will be suspended as a sign of respect.
Journalist Oscar Toro and his photojournalist wife Maria Clauss were also confirmed to be among those who perished in the train crash. Jaime de Vicente Nunez, president of the Iberoamerican Cultural Association, mourned their loss, describing them as "great professionals and, above all, people of extraordinary human quality."
As the investigation into the cause of the accident continues, the nation grieves for the lives lost in this tragic event.
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