A commuter passenger train derailed in Gelida, near the Spanish city of Barcelona on Tuesday, killing the driver and injuring 37 people. The incident occurred just two days after a deadly rail crash in Spain,
in which two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern Córdoba province, killing 41 people.
The incident reportedly occurred around 10:00 pm local time (4:00 pm ET), according to a statement from the train operator.
According to CNN, the accident involved a commuter service on the R4 line — used by thousands of passengers daily –- as the train was traveling between the municipalities of Gelida and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in the northeast of the country.
The derailment was caused when a retaining wall fell onto the tracks following heavy rains, the Civil Protection of Catalonia’s regional government said.
The regional fire department of Catalonia established a security zone and proceeded to shore up both the retaining wall and the train to stabilise the scene. They also evacuated the injured outside of the so-called “hot zone”.
Four people were seriously injured, Claudi Gallardo, inspector at the Catalonia regional fire department, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He said all passengers had been removed from the train.
Several people were treated for injuries of varying severity, including the train driver, who died after being assisted by the first responders.
(With agency inputs)
