KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has publicly conveyed profound sympathies to the Spanish government and its citizens after a catastrophic railway incident resulted in significant casualties. The tragic event occurred on Sunday evening near Adamuz in the Andalusia region, claiming 41 lives and prompting international expressions of solidarity.
In an official statement released via social media platform X, Holness emphasized the profound impact of the disaster, noting that the scale of loss transcends national boundaries. The collision involved a passenger service traveling from Malaga to Madrid, which derailed and subsequently collided with an oncoming train, causing both to overturn.
Prime Minister Holness drew parallels between Spain’s current tragedy and the support Spain provided Jamaica during the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which resulted in over 50 Jamaican fatalities. This historical context underscored the mutual solidarity between the two nations.
Holness expressed particular empathy for bereaved families and those injured in the accident, assuring them of Jamaica’s spiritual support during Spain’s declared period of national mourning. He concluded his message with a traditional benediction for the deceased.
This incident represents the first of two recent railway emergencies in Spain, with a subsequent commuter train accident on Tuesday resulting in additional fatalities and injuries when infrastructure failure caused a collision in Barcelona.