Rescue teams continued recovery efforts Thursday following a high-speed train collision in central Spain that has claimed 69 lives, renewed safety concerns about the country’s rail network ahead of a national election. The crash occurred Wednesday morning in the province of Toledo when one train struck another from behind, causing at least three carriages to derail and scatter down a gravel slope.

Authorities deployed cranes to move the derailed carriages as police and military personnel searched the wreckage for victims. One additional body was recovered overnight, raising the death toll to 69, according to Castilla La Mancha regional president Emiliano García-Page. He noted that 50 individuals remained hospitalized, and some victims required identification of body parts recovered at the site.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the scene soon after the accident, expressing condolences and ordering a full investigation. He vowed to implement measures to improve rail safety following what he described as a “catastrophe” that has deeply affected the nation. The government declared three days of mourning starting Thursday.

Spain’s high-speed rail system, often regarded as one of the country’s most significant infrastructure achievements and the world’s second largest after China, had never experienced a fatal accident during its more than 30 years of service until this year. In January, a separate derailment and collision in southern Spain killed 46 people when one train derailed and collided head-on with another traveling in the opposite direction.

This latest tragedy comes just weeks ahead of a general election scheduled for late November, raising fresh debates about transportation safety and regulatory oversight. The rail network, which served 45 million passengers last year including millions of tourists, faces scrutiny amid public concerns over preventive measures and emergency response capabilities.

Investigators are focusing on the circumstances that led to the rear-end collision, examining operational and technical factors that may have contributed. Officials have not yet released detailed findings but have pledged transparency as they seek to restore public confidence in Spain’s extensive high-speed rail infrastructure.