After days filled with uncertainty, Spanish authorities have verified the death of Tamara Margarita Valdés, a 50-year-old Cuban woman, following the catastrophic train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba province.
The heartbreaking news reached her family on Wednesday, although DNA identification was still pending, as shared by someone close to the family with elTOQUE.
With this confirmation, the number of Cuban nationals involved in the incident rose to four, with Tamara being the only fatality.
A Devastating Collision
The accident took place on Sunday, January 18, at 7:45 PM, when a high-speed train operated by the company Iryo, traveling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed at the entrance of Adamuz. It crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an Alvia train en route from Madrid to Huelva.
The Civil Guard's Criminalistics Service reported that 41 individuals have been positively identified, although the total death toll stands at 43.
Initially, Tamara's name was not listed among the official records of the deceased. In the chaos following the crash, she was marked as missing, while her husband, Ramón Montón, frantically searched for her at a designated area near the crash site.
"I talked to her 20 minutes before the accident. She almost missed the train. I'm very anxious, and I still haven't been able to find her," he told the newspaper El País at the time.
A Weekend to Remember
Residing in Huelva, Tamara was among the 184 passengers on the Alvia train, which experienced the highest number of casualties.
According to elTOQUE, she had just spent a weekend in Madrid reconnecting with friends she hadn't seen in 25 years.
One of them, Rosy del Todo Fournier, posted a video on Instagram featuring photos of their reunion.
"Our last weekend together, filled with life, laughter, hugs, and genuine love. Unbeknownst to us, it became an eternal treasure. Laughter that still echoes, glances that embrace, and a love that never leaves. This final meeting lives on forever, just as you do in my heart. We didn't know we were creating an everlasting memory that will resonate within us forever, that last hug filled with true affection," she wrote.
The two met in Cuba in the early '90s and traveled to Spain in 1995 as part of a tour arranged by the Ministry of Culture with the music group Oro Negro. They decided to remain in Spain after the tour.
Tamara initially settled in the Canary Islands and later moved to Huelva, where she became the director of a real estate agency. She had an 18-year-old daughter.
On Sunday, she was returning to Huelva for professional reasons, as she had a meeting scheduled early on Monday.
"The comfort I find is that this weekend was so intense, emotional, filled with sibling-like affection… It happened, but her final moments were happy. She departed with so much joy in her soul. I hold onto that," Rosy expressed.
As authorities continue the challenging process of identification and cross-checking lists of passengers, injured, deceased, and missing, Tamara's case remains administratively open. However, for her family and friends, the wait has turned into mourning.
Impact and Aftermath
In addition to the 43 confirmed deaths, over 150 people were injured, with 41 hospitalized, including 13 in intensive care units.
The Iryo train, which derailed, carried 294 individuals, while the Alvia had 184 passengers. The first two carriages of the Alvia, with 53 people aboard, were severely impacted and plunged down a four-meter embankment.
The scene was described by Adamuz's mayor, Rafael Moreno, as "apocalyptic."
Córdoba's fire chief, Paco Carmona, noted that the train cars were "twisted" and reduced to "masses of metal," making rescue operations exceedingly difficult.
The Spanish Prime Minister declared three days of national mourning in response to the accident, marking it as the most severe high-speed train collision in Spain’s history.
Key Details About the Train Accident in Spain
What caused the train accident in Adamuz, Spain?
The accident was caused when a high-speed train operated by Iryo derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an Alvia train.
How many casualties were there in the train collision?
The collision resulted in 43 fatalities and over 150 injuries, with 41 people requiring hospitalization.
Who was Tamara Margarita Valdés?
Tamara Margarita Valdés was a 50-year-old Cuban woman residing in Huelva, Spain, and was one of the victims of the train accident.
What was the response from the Spanish government?
The Spanish government declared three days of national mourning following the tragic train accident.