Cordoba, Spain
—
A commuter passenger train derailed in Guerrida, near the Spanish city of Barcelona, on Tuesday, killing the driver and injuring 37 others, a Catalan government spokesperson told CNN.
The incident occurred just two days after another train accident in Spain. In the accident, two high-speed trains collided near Adams in the southern state of Cordoba, killing 41 people.
Tuesday’s accident involved a commuter train on the R4 line, used by thousands of passengers every day, as it ran between the cities of Guerrida and Sant Sadurn d’Anoia in the northeast of the country.
The derailment was caused by a retaining wall falling onto the tracks after heavy rain, according to the Catalan government’s civil protection group.
The incident occurred around 10pm local time (4pm ET), the train operator said.
Emergency services received 28 calls in connection with the incident. Twenty medical emergency system (SEM) ambulances and 38 regional fire department ambulances were called to the scene.
Catalonia’s regional fire department reported that they had set up a security zone to stabilize the scene and had proceeded with reinforcing both the retaining wall and the train. It also evacuated injured people outside so-called “hot zones” so they could be treated by local emergency services. Authorities said they needed to “rescue” one person who remained trapped on the train.
Four people were seriously injured, Catalonia regional fire chief Inspector Claudy Gallardo said in televised comments from the scene of the accident, Reuters reported.
He said all passengers were removed from the train.
Several people, including the train driver, were treated for various serious injuries but died after being rescued by first responders.
Minister of Interior and Security Nuria Parlon and Minister of Territories Sylvia Paneque are on their way to the scene of the accident.
This story has been updated with additional information.
