Spain to pay $24 million in compensation to victims of high-speed train crash

Spain will pay out 20 million euros ($24 million) in compensation to the victims of last week's high-speed train crash that killed 45 people and left more than 150 injured, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on Tuesday.

The nation is still reeling from the January 18 disaster in Adamuz near the southern city of Cordoba that caused one of the highest death tolls from a train crash in recent European history and the highest in Spain since 2013.

The families of those killed will receive 216,000 euros each within no more than three months, made up of 72,000 euros in tax-exempt aid from the government and an advance insurance payment of 72,000 euros. Another 72,000 euros will be paid from passengers' mandatory travel insurance.

"We know that ordinary procedures and legal timelines do not always respond to the vital urgency of a tragedy like this," Puente said, adding that victims could not afford to wait years to receive support.

"Economic uncertainty cannot be compounded on top of the emotional pain."

Payments to those injured will range from 2,400 euros to 84,000 euros, according to Puente.

The minister has come under public pressure since the Adamuz crash and other incidents that same week, including the death of a train driver in Catalonia and two other accidents without fatalities. The main opposition People's Party has demanded his resignation.

Asked about his future, Puente told reporters he had a calm conscience, performing his job to the best of his abilities and making every effort to communicate all available information to citizens.

Catalan commuter rail service Rodalies also faced heavy disruptions last week after many drivers refused to work over safety concerns, leaving thousands stranded, while a software failure collapsed its train traffic control centre on Monday.

($1 = 0.8407 euros)

-Victoria Waldersee/Reuters