A commuter train derailed on Tuesday near the Spanish city of Barcelona after a containment wall collapsed onto the tracks during heavy rainfall, killing the train’s driver and leaving four passengers seriously injured, authorities said.
The accident occurred in Gelida, on the outskirts of Barcelona, prompting a major emergency response. Claudi Gallardo, an inspector with the Catalonia regional fire department, confirmed the casualty figures at the scene.
“The driver has died, and four passengers are seriously injured. In total, 37 people were injured,” Gallardo told reporters. “All passengers have now been safely evacuated from the train.”
Emergency services rushed to the site, deploying 20 ambulances and 38 firefighting units to assist victims and secure the area. The derailment comes just two days after another deadly rail disaster, when a high-speed train collision and derailment near Adamuz in southern Córdoba province claimed 42 lives, heightening national concern over rail safety.
The suburban rail line involved in Tuesday’s accident has long been plagued by underinvestment and recurring service disruptions, fueling renewed scrutiny of infrastructure maintenance and safety standards in the region.
Adding to the day’s disruptions, rail traffic was halted later on Tuesday between Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes, south of Girona, also within the Barcelona commuter network. Spain’s rail infrastructure operator, Adif, said the interruption was caused by a train axle coming off the track.
The twin incidents have intensified public and political pressure on transport authorities as Spain grapples with a troubling spate of rail accidents.
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