The Institute of Legal Medicine of Toledo and Ciudad Real concluded the identification of the 69 deceased people in the train accident that occurred on Wednesday in Urda (Toledo), Spain. According to the Integrated Data Center (CID) and the Superior Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha, among the deceased are 54 Spanish citizens and 15 foreigners, all of legal age.
The forensic report details that the victims correspond to 40 men and 29 women. Regarding the 15 deceased foreign nationals, the balance includes 4 Americans, 2 Australians, 2 Japanese and a citizen from Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Portugal and Tunisia, respectively, reported Efe.
The CID confirmed the official notification to all family members, as well as to the corresponding consular offices, after applying a strict reliable verification protocol before its inclusion in public statistics. 55 bodies are already at the disposal of their loved ones for funeral honors.
Forensic identification methods
The coordinated work between criminalistics services and toxicology institutions made it possible to speed up the process through two main mechanisms:
- Fingerprint: The Criminalistics Service of the Civil Guard managed to identify 56 people through this procedure.
- DNA analysis: The National Institute of Toxicology, in collaboration with the Civil Guard, identified the remaining 13 victims by comparing post-mortem samples and genetic data provided by relatives.
Deployment of experts and logistical support
A multidisciplinary team made up of more than 60 professionals led the autopsies and identifications from the Toledo headquarters. The operation had the direct participation of:
- Medical and technical staff: 19 forensic doctors from different regional agencies, two advisors from the Ministry of Justice and eight autopsy technicians.
- Security forces and laboratories: 27 Civil Guard agents dedicated to fingerprinting and laboratory, along with nine specialists from the National Institute of Toxicology focused on DNA testing.
- Psychological assistance: Four forensic psychologists formed the specialized unit for containment and support of family members.
Throughout the entire operation, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) provided essential logistical support for the management of the facilities, providing the necessary means until the complete completion of official notifications.
