---
title: "Former Spanish Minister and 24-Year-Old Long Jumper Among 69 Killed in Deadly Train Crash"
url: https://egloos.com/en/smalljoys/28800
channel: "Vonvon"
channel_url: https://egloos.com/en/smalljoys
category: "General"
language: en
published: 2026-10-30T15:43:42
updated: 2026-10-30T15:43:42
---

# Former Spanish Minister and 24-Year-Old Long Jumper Among 69 Killed in Deadly Train Crash

A former Spanish government minister and a promising 24-year-old athlete are among the 69 people killed in the devastating high-speed train collision that has left the country in mourning.

![](https://static.egloos.com/content/images/body/20261030/20261030154305_image.png)

Former Employment Minister Fátima Báñez, 59, and long jumper Julieta Gallego, 24, were among the victims of Wednesday’s disaster on the Madrid-Seville railway line.

Báñez served as Spain’s employment minister from 2011 to 2018 under former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. After leaving government, she continued her work in the business sector and became president of the foundation linked to Spain’s Confederation of Business Organizations.

![](https://static.egloos.com/content/images/body/20261030/20261030154328_image.png)

Her death was confirmed by the organization, which expressed deep sadness over the loss.

Gallego was a rising athlete who competed for Madrid-based club AD Sprint and regularly participated in Spanish club championships. She achieved a personal-best long jump of 5.90 meters in 2023.

The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation confirmed her death, paying tribute to the young athlete and offering condolences to her family, friends and teammates.

The tragedy occurred on October 28 when two high-speed trains operated by Renfe and Iryo collided near Urda, in Toledo province. One train struck another that had stopped on the tracks, sending several carriages off the railway line.

Authorities have confirmed 69 deaths, while dozens of injured passengers remain hospitalized.

Spain has declared three days of national mourning as families continue to grieve and authorities investigate what led to the collision. Initial findings have pointed to a signalling-system failure and a decision to authorize a train to continue despite another train being stopped ahead.

The investigation remains ongoing, as the country remembers the victims whose lives were lost in one of its deadliest railway disasters.

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