A commuter train struck a retaining wall that had fallen onto the tracks due to heavy rain near Barcelona on Tuesday, killing the driver and injuring at least 37 passengers. Five people were left seriously injured, Spanish authorities said.
Emergency services dispatched 20 ambulances to the crash site near the town of Gelida, about 35 minutes outside Barcelona. Regional firefighters reported that most of the injured had been travelling in the first train car.
Claudi Gallardo, an inspector at the Catalonia regional fire department, confirmed that 37 people had been injured and all passengers had been removed from the train. The accident occurred just two days after a high-speed train collision near Adamuz that killed 42 people.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez acknowledged the incident on social media, writing: “All my affection and solidarity with the victims and their families.”
Spain’s railway operator ADIF said the containment wall likely collapsed due to heavy rainfall that swept across the northeastern region this week. Commuter train service on the line was cancelled. A support centre for relatives was set up at the Casablanca Urbanisation civic centre.
