Iran consoles Spain over train crash

The Islamic Republic of Iran has offered its condolences to the Spanish government and people over the recent rail disaster in the country that left at least 80 people dead and tens of others injured.

“Such heartrending accidents in any part of the world are the cause of sadness and sorrow,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday.

He added that the Iranian nation and government sympathize with the Spanish people and government and extend their condolences to them.

At least 80 passengers were killed and more than 160 others injured on Wednesday, when a train derailed near the northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.

The train was transporting 218 passengers and four crewmembers from Madrid to the shipbuilding city of Ferrol, when four of its carriages overturned and wagons piled into each other and folded up.

Spanish court officials said on Thursday that one of the drivers of the train has been put under probe.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed sadness and shock as he visited the scene.

“Today is a very difficult day. Today we have lived through a terrible, dramatic accident, which I fear will stay with us for a long time,” he said, adding, “For someone from Santiago, like myself, believe me, this is the saddest Day of St James of my life,” the Spanish prime minister noted.

Spain will hold three days of mourning over the crash. The black box of the train is now with the judge in charge of the investigation.