Authorities in Spain are investigating a pair of train derailments in the Barcelona province Tuesday evening, the latest in a troubling series of rail incidents for the country, including a fatal collision just two days prior. At least 37 people were injured in the first derailment, with four critically wounded, after a commuter train struck debris from a collapsed retaining wall. compounding the situation, a second, unoccupied commuter train derailed hours later amid severe weather conditions impacting the region.
At least 37 people were injured, four critically, after a train derailed Tuesday evening in Barcelona province, Spain, authorities said. The incident marks the latest in a series of rail accidents in the country, raising concerns about infrastructure safety.
According to reports, the derailment occurred when a section of a retaining wall collapsed onto the tracks. The accident took place just two days after a separate train collision in Spain left 41 people dead. Details of that earlier crash remain under investigation.
Emergency Services Respond to the Scene
The incident involved a commuter train operating on the R4 line, occurring around 9 p.m. local time between the towns of Sant Sadurnà d’Anoia and Gelida, approximately 25 miles from Barcelona. Fifteen ambulances and eleven fire crews, totaling around seventy firefighters, were dispatched to the scene. Their initial focus was on rescuing passengers and reinforcing the damaged retaining wall to prevent further collapses.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the derailment, but preliminary findings suggest that heavy rainfall in recent days may have weakened the wall, leading to its collapse onto the tracks.
An inspector at the scene told reporters that the train had just left Sant Vicenc de Calders station when part of the retaining wall gave way due to a landslide, obstructing the tracks and causing the train to collide with the debris. The inspector indicated a strong likelihood that the landslide was a consequence of the recent storm.
The partially collapsed retaining wall was last inspected in November and was deemed to be in adequate condition at that time.
According to a statement from the Catalan emergency services on social media, 36 injured passengers have been treated, with five in serious condition, five with less severe injuries, and 26 suffering minor wounds. Firefighters reported that the majority of the injured were located in the first car, which sustained the brunt of the impact.
The identity of the train operator remains unconfirmed, as authorities are determining whether it was the deceased driver or one of the two trainee drivers who were also in the cabin at the time of the accident.
At the request of the Spanish railway union, all commuter rail services in Barcelona province have been suspended, not only on the affected R4 line.
Three members of the Catalan government traveled to the accident site, arriving around 1:30 a.m. local time, according to El PaÃs.
Second Train Derailment Reported Amid Severe Weather
Another commuter train on the R1 line, operating between Blanes and Macanet, also derailed Tuesday evening in the province, though no injuries were reported in that incident. Authorities believe falling rocks onto the tracks, caused by the storm impacting Girona, may have been responsible.
Prior to the two derailments, heavy rainfall throughout the day had disrupted rail services across the province, with some lines experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes. Two lines in Girona were completely closed.
Barcelona province has experienced severe rainfall and storms over the past two days, prompting authorities to advise residents to avoid rivers, streams, and the coastline.
Flood alerts were in effect in some parts of the province, with waves of up to 20 feet (6 meters) possible along the coast.
As a result, classes were canceled in several schools, some businesses remained closed, and certain roads were shut down due to flooding. Residents in ground-floor or basement apartments were advised to move to higher levels during the storm.
The Girona region was the hardest hit by the storm, with firefighters responding to a total of 210 calls in just a few hours on Tuesday.
