In brief
A catastrophic train derailment near Barcelona has resulted in the death of a train driver and injuries to at least 37 passengers, five of whom are seriously injured. The incident, caused by a fallen retaining wall amidst severe storms, follows a recent tragic collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain that left at least 43 people dead. Rail officials are conducting safety checks across the Catalonia region's commuter network, causing significant disruption to services.
A train driver has been killed and at least 37 people injured, five seriously, after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona two days after a deadly two-train collision in southern Spain.
According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní.
Catalonia regional fire Inspector Claudi Gallardo stated that all passengers had been safely removed from the train.
The incident occurred amid heavy storms affecting northeastern Spain, with various areas on high alert due to severe weather conditions.
Rail officials believe the wall collapsed just as the train was passing, striking the driver's cab first and causing considerable damage to the first carriage, where most injured passengers were located.
The identity of the driver is presently unclear, as three trainees were accompanying the driver during the incident, two of whom suffered serious injuries.
Emergency services spent nearly an hour rescuing one of the survivors trapped in the wreckage near Gelida, around 35km (22 miles) west of Barcelona.
Nearby hospitals have treated the injured, while Catalonia's Rodalies commuter rail services have been suspended for safety checks, leading to significant disruptions for approximately 400,000 commuters.
This accident follows another tragic event where two high-speed trains collided in Andalusia, resulting in at least 43 dead, prompting the Spanish train drivers' union Semaf to call for a strike.
Local officials attribute the retaining wall's collapse to heavy rainfall following months of drought. Meanwhile, another train incident on the Barcelona commuter line resulted from debris dislodged by the storm.
