Thousands of passengers experienced major delays on Spain's high-speed rail network after signaling cables were stolen from four different locations along the line connecting Madrid and Seville, officials reported Monday.
The theft occurred late Sunday and affected dozens of trains, especially as people were returning to Madrid after a long holiday weekend.
On Monday, large crowds gathered at Madrid’s Atocha station, seeking updates from rail staff and departure boards. The state-run rail operator Renfe advised travelers with early morning trains not to come to the station before 8 a.m. to help reduce overcrowding.
Among the frustrated travelers was Alberto Valero, a tourist from Mexico, who had been waiting at the station with his family since early morning. He noted the confusion among passengers from several countries, including France and Portugal, due to the lack of clear communication.
Spain's rail infrastructure company, ADIF, confirmed on social media that the cable theft occurred in the Toledo region, in central Spain. This disruption follows a major power outage the previous week that also paralyzed high-speed rail services in Spain and Portugal, leaving thousands stranded.
A fire broke out on Wednesday at a chemical distribution warehouse near Seville in southern Spain, prompting authorities to advise residents to stay indoors due to the potential release of toxic smoke.
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On April 28, 2025, Spain experienced one of the most severe electrical failures in modern European history, with effects cascading across the Iberian Peninsula.
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Electricity had been restored to most of Spain and Portugal early on Tuesday after huge nationwide blackouts, although authorities were still trying to find out what caused the sudden outage.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
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Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
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