Spanish city pays tribute to 2006 subway crash victims

MADRID – More than 100 people have paid tribute to victims of a fatal subway crash in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia that killed 43 and injured 47 a decade ago.

Some mourners laid flowers outside the Jesus station where the crash occurred on July 3, 2006.

The 10-anniversary ceremony was an emotional one for the families, which had long battled to reverse a decision by the conservative Popular Party that governed Valencia at the time to change the name of the station. It has now been changed back to its original name.

Contrary to the local government’s account that human error and excessive speed was to blame, victims’ associations argued that the derailment was caused by poor railway maintenance. An investigative commission’s recent verdict supported the victims’ version.