Rail services between Madrid and parts of Andalusia were temporarily suspended while investigators and emergency crews worked at the crash site.
The cause of the derailment became the focus of an extensive investigation. Investigators examined the trains, railway tracks and infrastructure surrounding the crash site.
A later report by Spain’s Civil Guard pointed to a possible failure in a welded section of rail. Investigators identified a fracture in the rail at a point where two sections manufactured in different years had been welded together. Signs of material fatigue were also reportedly found before the final break.
The investigation is continuing to determine exactly what caused the failure and whether maintenance or inspection procedures played a role.
The crash has caused widespread grief across Spain, with families mourning those who died and communities supporting survivors and the injured. The disaster has also raised questions about railway safety and the maintenance of Spain’s high-speed rail infrastructure.
For the victims, their families and the survivors, the crash has left a lasting impact as authorities continue working to establish the full circumstances behind the tragedy.