King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia travelled to Cordoba on Tuesday to show their support for those affected by the rail accident in Adamuz.
The monarchs visited the crash site, met emergency workers and spent time with injured passengers and their families in hospital.
The royals were accompanied by Maria Jesus Montero, Spain’s First Vice President and Minister of Finance, as part of a day focused on recognising the efforts of rescue teams and offering comfort to victims.
Visit to the crash site in Adamuz
On arrival, the heads of state were received by the president of the Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, along with the Minister of Transport Oscar Puente and various other ministers.
The royal visit began at the advanced command post, where representatives of the Guardia Civil and ADIF briefed the King and Queen on the ongoing operations and the work carried out since the accident.
They later met members of the emergency services involved in the rescue effort, including the Guardia Civil, local police from Adamuz and Cordoba, firefighters from various agencies and personnel from the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME).
Several local residents and volunteers who were among the first to assist the victims were also present.
Support for families and medical staff
The visit continued at the Centro Civico Poniente Sur in Cordoba, where the King and Queen met psychologists and healthcare professionals providing support to the families of those affected by the tragedy.
As the final stop of the day, Their Majesties went to the Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, where they were welcomed by senior management and medical leadership.
They were briefed on the care being provided to the injured.
At the Maternal and Children’s Hospital, the King and Queen visited three children from the same family injured in the accident, as well as an adult patient whose daughter remains hospitalised.
In the General Hospital, they met a young woman who required surgery as a result of her injuries.
‘The affection of the whole country’
Speaking to the media after leaving the hospital, King Felipe praised the response to the tragedy, highlighting ‘the very high level of professionalism, dedication and commitment of all the services involved’ in caring for the victims.
He also underlined ‘the willingness of all administrations to work together, contribute resources and coordinate efforts’, and said the visit was intended to convey ‘the affection of the whole country’ to the families, along with wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.
Queen Letizia, meanwhile, reflected on the broader impact of such tragedies, warning that ‘we are all responsible for not looking away once the rubble of a catastrophe is being cleared’.
She spoke of the importance of recognising ‘our shared vulnerability’ and paid tribute to the many professionals and neighbours who chose to identify with the victims’ pain and offer whatever help they could.
