Published: 11 March 2004
At least 140 people have died and more than 400 have been wounded in a series of explosions which occurred during the early morning rush-hour today in three different train stations in Madrid.
The Spanish Red Cross has mobilized hundreds of volunteers to support the injured and the bereaved. This assistance includes the deployment of more than 50 vehicles, of which 26 are ambulances being used to transport people to hospitals and five mobile blood collection units in Madrid responding to an appeal for blood donors from hospitals treating the injured. First aid kits, body bags, stretchers, blankets and other relief items have also been made available from Red Cross stocks.
The Spanish Red Cross is providing psychological support to victims and relatives in Madrid and has also established seven psychological support teams, each comprising of 12 specialists, from Madrid and other provinces to comfort relatives of those missing and affected. The Spanish Red Cross has activated its tracing system to assist families concerned about the fate of their loved ones.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its members have shown their solidarity with the Spanish Red Cross which mobilized volunteers and members within minutes of the disaster.
“We are proud of the work that the Spanish Red Cross is carrying out under very difficult circumstances. Their volunteers have been on the spot since the incident happened,” said Abbas Gullet, deputy secretary general of the International Federation.
Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, president of the International Federation and the Spanish Red Cross said today: “the Spanish Red Cross appreciates all the expressions of comfort and sympathy that we have received from around the world in response to this terrible tragedy and despite the many kind offers of help we have received we are not appealing for international assistance at this moment in time”.