Two high-speed trains collide in Spain: 39 people killed, dozens injured
Фото: REUTERS
Two high-speed passenger trains collided in southern Spain near the town of Adamas in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The accident killed at least 39 people and injured dozens more, some of them seriously.
This is reported by BBC News Ukraine .
The accident occurred on Sunday at 19:45 local time. A high-speed passenger train operated by Iryo, traveling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed and crossed onto a neighboring track, where it collided with an oncoming train operated by Alvio.
The Andalusian emergency services said at least 73 people were hospitalized, 24 of whom were seriously injured. Four children were among the injured.
Rescue services say the number of injured could rise as passengers could be trapped in the deformed carriages. Some carriages overturned, while others sustained significant damage, making the work difficult.
“We had to first remove the body of the deceased to get to the living person. It is a difficult and complicated job,” said Cordoba Fire Chief Francisco Carmona.
According to Iryo, there were about 300 passengers on the derailed train. There may have been about 100 people on the oncoming train.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the accident appeared unusual because the train derailed on a straight section of track that was repaired in May 2023. The cost of the repair work was about 700 million euros.
“The situation looks extremely strange, because we are talking about new infrastructure and practically a new train,” said Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente.
The official cause of the disaster has not yet been determined. The investigation is being conducted by a special group of experts under the auspices of the Railway Accident Investigation Commission. According to preliminary estimates, the investigation could last at least a month.
Following the accident, rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were completely suspended. Trains between Madrid and Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Huelva will not run on January 19. Stations and terminals remain open to passengers.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country was experiencing a night of deep mourning. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also expressed their condolences to the families of the dead and injured.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed their condolences.
As a reminder, in Indiana, heavy snowfall caused a collision involving about 45 vehicles on one of the key highways . As a result, traffic on the westbound lane of I-70 was completely blocked and temporary restrictions were imposed.
Earlier, on October 13, two high-speed trains collided near the village of Jablunov nad Turnou in Slovakia , injuring about 100 people.
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