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Rediff.com  » News » Photos: 77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two
This article was first published 10 years ago

Photos: 77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Last updated on: July 25, 2013 13:27 IST

Image: Rescue workers pull victims from a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain
Photographs: Oscar Corral/Reuters

A high-speed passenger train derailed in north-western Spain, killing at least 77 people and injuring more than 100, reports BBC

All eight carriages of the train, which was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol, came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday night. The train car snapped into two and another car caught fire.

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77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Image: Victims receive help after a train crashed near Santiago de Compostela
Photographs: Xoan A Soler/Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/Reuters

Rescue efforts continued through the night as workers pulled bodies through the wreckage and the police escorted injured passengers.

The tragedy struck at 8:42 pm (0012 IST) as the train carrying 218 passengers and four staff was about to enter Santiago de Compostela station in the northwestern region of Galicia.

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77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Image: A wounded victim sits near the train crashed site
Photographs: Xoan A Soler/Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/Reuters

According to a witness, carriages overturned several times on a bend and came to a halt piled up on each other.

Public television TVE said the train may have derailed because it was speeding at the time of the accident. However, a spokesman for state railway company Renfe said it was too soon to say what caused the accident.

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77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Image: Rescue workers help a victim of a train crash near Santiago de Compostela
Photographs: Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/Reuters

Residents who lived near the tracks said that they heard a thunderous bang when the train crashed.

"The train had broken in half. Some pieces were on top, some pieces were on the bottom," said Ivette Rubiera Cabrera, another eyewitness.

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77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Image: Rescue workers pull victims from a train crash near Santiago de Compostela
Photographs: Oscar Corral/Reuters

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, convened an emergency ministerial meeting late on Wednesday. He is due to visit the scene of the accident on Thursday, reports BBC.

"I want to express my affection and solidarity with the victims of the terrible train accident in Santiago," Rajoy said on his Twitter account.

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77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two

Image: An injured passenger is helped by a policeman after train crash
Photographs: Oscar Corral/Reuters

Firefighters, police and psychologists were at the scene, the Galicia government said in a statement. Investigators are looking at all possible causes of the crash, a senior aide to Spain's prime minister said.

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