Leaked audio recordings published in Spanish media have revealed conversations between train drivers and a control centre just minutes before a deadly train crash on Wednesday morning that killed 69 people.
The audio recordings were published by several Spanish news outlets including El Pais and RTVE. Following the disaster, officials expressed condolences to the victims' relatives, pledging that the investigation would determine why the crash happened, and what measures would be taken for this not to happen again.
In one recording, a control centre operator is speaking to the driver of the Renfe train, which was having some technical difficulties. A later recording shows the Iryo driver contacts the control centre again, saying they cannot start the train.
The latter recording suggests that the controller had been notified that the Iryo train remained stationary as the Renfe train approached. But later the Renfe train was ordered to proceed in error, according to Spain's transport minister.
The disaster occurred when a high-speed train from Madrid to Seville barrelled into a stationary train, leaving passengers bloodied, dazed, and angry as their rail journey turned to disaster.
The leaked tapes appear to show one high-speed train was given clearance to move at normal speed, even though another up ahead had stalled. Officials are investigating the cause of the disaster.
At the crash site, emergency crews worked through the night under powerful floodlights to cut open metal carriages in the search for victims, with many of those killed in the crash still to be identified.