Spanish transport minister steps down after fatal train crash near Urda

Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, has resigned six days after a high-speed train collision near Urda, south of Madrid, that killed at least 69 people and injured dozens more. The crash occurred when a train struck the rear of a stationary train on Wednesday.

Puente announced his resignation in Congress after answering questions about the disaster, which is considered one of the worst rail accidents in modern European history and the deadliest in Spain since 2013.

He told lawmakers that a transport minister in a country like Spain could not remain in office after two accidents of this severity within less than a year, referring to a previous crash on the same rail line in January that killed 46 people.

Rescue teams had needed heavy lifting equipment to reach derailed carriages where passengers were trapped following last week's collision.

Puente made his announcement at the close of a lengthy session in Congress on Tuesday evening, during which he presented new rail safety measures and faced extensive questioning from opposition politicians.

He further said he was not only leaving his ministerial post but also withdrawing his candidacy from the lists for the upcoming early legislative elections.

Puente had faced growing calls to resign from opposition parties, as well as from some within the governing coalition, in the days following the crash.