Pedro Sánchez: "The whole of the state is working to provide answers to the victims' families, to shed light on the tragedy and to strengthen safety measures so that this never happens again"

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, assured the public that the entire General State Administration, "from the smallest town to the Government of Spain, are working day and night to provide a response to the families of the victims" of the Urda accident, "to clarify every last detail of this tragedy" and "to strengthen safety measures so that this never happens again".

He made these remarks during a press briefing following a visit to the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (CECOPI) at the 112 Centre in Toledo, where the emergency response to the Urda rail accident is being coordinated. The head of the Executive was accompanied by the Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the President of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, and the Government Delegate in Castilla-La Mancha, José Pablo Sabrido.

His appearance was as follows:

"Thank you very much, Mr President, and thank you, Councillor. I would like, first of all, to thank the media for all the information you are providing to the Spanish public and, in particular, to the families of the victims, because, as President Emiliano García-Page has said, your work in situations of human tragedy is indeed essential.

From the perspective of the General State Administration - as I also stated yesterday during my appearance, and I am also grateful for this CECOP meeting - the entire State is fully committed to the response, on three fronts: First, there is the emergency response to this human tragedy, which includes the, unfortunately, necessary recovery of the bodies of those who perished in this catastrophe. This also includes the identification of the victims, the identification of the injured and the provision of medical care. Second, there is the effort to determine and clarify the causes that led to this terrible railway accident. And, finally, a subsequent issue will be the compensation - at least in material terms - that the General State Administration provides to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

From the very outset, the General State Administration activated the General State Civil Protection Emergency Plan, mobilising personnel from the UME, the Civil Guard, the National Police and, of course, the entire Civil Protection system - all of which, naturally, have been under the command and coordination of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha - as well as the full range of operations that various administrations have set in motion to provide a rapid, urgent and effective response to this tragedy.

And here, once again, I would like - as the president has done - to express my heartfelt thanks for all the coordination and professionalism shown by all the public servants across the various administrations, who are undoubtedly giving their very best.

Secondly, it should also be noted that, from Renfe's perspective, a support scheme was launched for victims of rail accidents and their families, setting up a telephone number to inform the victims' families and, of course, a support centre for families at various stations along the Madrid-Seville AVE line.

I understand that the private company Iryo has also done the same. And I also understand that Adif has set up support centres for the victims' families and for those who are, understandably, keen to know exactly what the current situation is regarding this accident.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the psychological support services for the work they are doing with the victims' families. I would also like to thank the public sector staff who, for example, were at the scene of the accident throughout the early hours of this morning and yesterday.

I think that, all too often, we forget the work carried out by the Red Cross. And ASEM 112 too. I would also like to thank them and acknowledge their work, because it is vital in a situation as tragic as the one we are currently facing.

And finally, we must, of course, convey to all citizens that the entire General State Administration - all the institutions that form part of the State, from the smallest town to the Government of Spain - are working day and night, not only to provide a response to the victims' families, but also to clarify every last detail of this tragedy and, of course, to strengthen safety measures so that this never happens again.

That is all, thank you very much".

Non official translation