The British broadcaster BBC reported that at least several thousand people were stranded after high-speed train services in Spain were suspended due to a copper cable theft incident.
According to the BBC on May 5 (local time), the previous day, copper cables were stolen from high-speed train lines connecting the Spanish capital Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia.
Copper pipe
Copper cables that supply electricity to the railway network were stolen at five locations several kilometers apart, causing a temporary suspension of high-speed train operations.
Service on more than 30 trains running between Madrid, Seville, Valencia, and other cities was disrupted, and some passengers were trapped on the trains.
The impact was particularly severe because the suspension occurred just as travelers were flocking to Seville ahead of its festival. Train services gradually resumed from the morning of May 5.
In Spain, a large-scale blackout also occurred on April 28, which led to the suspension of some high-speed train services.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated that it is investigating responsibility for the incident.
The BBC explained that, in recent years, a surge in copper prices has led to a sharp increase in cable thefts targeting railways and telecommunications networks that use copper.
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