A split-second decision to find a different toilet saved a woman's life during a horrific train crash in Spain that claimed at least 39 lives. The collision between two trains near Adamuz, Cordoba, has left investigators baffled, with Spain's Transport Minister describing the incident as "truly strange."
A Fateful Decision and a Miracle Escape
According to a passenger's account, a woman on the Madrid-bound Iryo service attempted to use the toilet in carriage number eight, but found it occupied. She subsequently walked to carriage number five to find another. Fellow passengers stated this simple act "saved her life." While many tragically died in the eighth carriage, it is understood that everyone in the fifth carriage survived the impact.
Chaos and Heroism in the Aftermath
Argentinian passenger Lucas Merakio, who was in carriage five with his partner, described the moment of the crash to Spanish television. "There was a vibration and then another much stronger one," he said. "The train began to jump and jump and then we felt what must have been carriage number eight derailing which was very violent and loud."
He recounted the immediate aftermath, where the lights went out and screams filled the air. Merakio and another passenger, who was on crutches, helped pass water to trapped victims from the derailed sixth carriage until emergency services arrived roughly 40 minutes later. He also witnessed a ten-year-old girl desperately searching for her missing parents amidst the chaos.
Investigation Launched into 'Strange' Crash
As rescue efforts continued at the scene, officials launched an investigation into the cause of the deadly derailment. Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente emphasised the puzzling nature of the accident, noting the tracks had been renovated just last year and confirming that both trains were travelling within the speed limit. The mystery surrounding the crash's cause adds another layer of tragedy to an event that has devastated the local community and the nation.
