Adamuz Victims Disagree with Emergency Services Complaint
A direct relative of a victim from the Adamuz train accident criticizes the political use of the tragedy and defends the work of emergency services.
By Redacción La Voz de Andalucía
••4 min read
IA
Generic image of a hand holding a smartphone with a social media post.
A direct relative of one of the fatalities in the Adamuz train derailment, which occurred on January 18, has publicly expressed disagreement with the victims' association's complaint regarding alleged failures in the management of emergency services 061 and 112.
Last week, the Adamuz Derailment Victims Association submitted a letter to the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, reporting “serious failures” in the assistance provided by the 061 and 112 services following the train accident on January 18 in Adamuz. This incident claimed the lives of 46 people, most of whom were residents of the province of Huelva.
The association's lawyer, Antonio Benítez, registered the letter as a complaint about potential deficiencies in emergency services with the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF), the Andalusian Ombudsman, and the Montoro court. This complaint is based on the “initial confusion” of the 112 services, as mentioned in Guardia Civil reports.
Mario Samper, president and spokesperson for the association, told Huelva24 that the letter had the “absolute consensus of those affected.” However, this claim has been challenged by some victims who have distanced themselves from the statement, expressing their discomfort with Samper's remarks and asserting that, in their view, emergency services acted with the utmost diligence.
Among those who disagree is Fidel Sáenz, who lost his mother, Natividad de la Torre, in the accident, and whose two children, a brother, and a nephew were injured. All of them were returning from Madrid on one of the affected trains. Sáenz, who initially declined to comment, has used his social media to express his disagreement with Mario Samper's statements as a representative of the association.
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"Today I speak as the son of a victim, as a relative of the injured, and as a direct witness to a tragedy that should never have happened. I have seen with my own eyes how professionals from 112, 061, firefighters, Red Cross, Guardia Civil, Police, Civil Protection, health workers, and support staff put their lives aside to respond from the very first minute. Without looking at the clock, without thinking of themselves. Only to help. Only to save. That is why I cannot remain silent in the face of attempts to distort the truth. It is not fair, nor honest, nor dignified, to point fingers at those who were there giving their all when others already knew the gravity of what was happening. A false narrative cannot be built to cover up real responsibilities. One cannot lie in the face of the pain of so many families. The truth should not be uncomfortable. The truth is necessary. And the truth is that those who responded on the ground deserve respect, recognition, and gratitude. Not self-serving criticisms or empty speeches."
The Huelva native, whose sister moved attendees with her heartfelt speech at the funeral held in Huelva, urges against using the tragedy for political gain. The association's stance, which directly targets the Junta de Andalucía, has been leveraged by the PSOE to assign responsibility to President Juanma Moreno in the run-up to an election.
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"Let no one use this tragedy to win votes or to hide mistakes. The memory of those who are no longer with us, and the suffering of those of us who remain, deserve something better: honesty, responsibility, and truth. Because without truth, there is no justice. And without justice, there is no peace."
Fidel Sáenz had previously garnered media attention for a letter sharply criticizing President Pedro Sánchez and demanding accountability. This act led to accusations of his proximity to the current regional government, which he himself refutes in his recent comment.
