Spain announced it will provide 20 million euros ($24 million) in compensation to victims of last week’s high-speed train crash near Adamuz, Cordoba, that killed 45 people and injured more than 150, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said Tuesday.

The crash, which occurred on January 18, is Spain’s deadliest train accident since 2013 and one of the highest death tolls from a rail disaster in recent European history. Families of those killed will receive 216,000 euros each within three months. The payment is split between 72,000 euros in tax-exempt government aid, 72,000 euros in advance insurance payouts, and 72,000 euros from mandatory travel insurance.

Puente emphasized the urgency of support, stating, “We know that ordinary procedures and legal timelines do not always respond to the vital urgency of a tragedy like this. Economic uncertainty cannot be compounded on top of the emotional pain.”

Payments to injured passengers will range from 2,400 euros to 84,000 euros, depending on the severity of their injuries.

The tragedy has intensified public scrutiny of Transport Minister Puente, with opposition parties, including the People’s Party, calling for his resignation following multiple railway incidents that same week. In Catalonia, a train driver died, and commuter rail services faced widespread disruption as drivers refused to operate over safety concerns, compounded by a software failure that shut down the Rodalies train traffic control center.

Puente defended his record, saying he had acted with a “calm conscience” and worked to keep citizens fully informed during the crisis.