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Scores Reported Dead as Train Derails in Spain Scores Reported Dead as Train Derails in Spain
(about 3 hours later)
Spain’s worst rail crash in decades left at least 77 people dead and dozens more injured, officials said on Thursday, as investigators tried to establish how a passenger train that some reports said was traveling at excessive speed derailed outside Santiago de Compostela. Spain’s worst rail crash in decades left at least 78 people dead and scores more injured, officials said on Thursday, as investigators tried to establish how a passenger train that many reports said was traveling at excessive speed derailed outside Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.
Emergency workers were still picking their way through mangled debris more than 12 hours after one of Europe’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years. No official cause has been determined although many Spanish media outlets blamed the crash on the train taking a curve at about twice the maximum permitted speed. Emergency workers were still picking their way through mangled debris more than 12 hours after the train crashed and burned in one of Europe’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years. No official cause has been determined, although Spanish media outlets reported that the train, with 218 passengers and nearly 30 crew members on board, was taking a curve at about twice the maximum permitted speed. Some also reported that one of the drivers had been placed under investigation.
The train, with 218 people on board, derailed as Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain prepared for an annual festival that was canceled as local people tried to absorb the scale of the disaster. The city of Santiago de Compostela canceled its extensive annual July 25 celebration of St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of Spain and historic Galicia, as local people tried to absorb the scale of the disaster.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in the region, visited the scene of the accident and was to visit hospitals. “In the face of a tragedy such as just happened in Santiago de Compostela on the eve of its big day, I can only express my deepest sympathy as a Spaniard and a Galician,” he said in a written statement late Wednesday. On Thursday, Mr. Rajoy declared three days of official mourning.Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in the region, visited the scene of the accident and was to visit hospitals. “In the face of a tragedy such as just happened in Santiago de Compostela on the eve of its big day, I can only express my deepest sympathy as a Spaniard and a Galician,” he said in a written statement late Wednesday. On Thursday, Mr. Rajoy declared three days of official mourning.
The eight-car train, which left Madrid at 3 p.m. on Wednesday was traveling to Ferrol when it derailed at 8:41 p.m., according to the Spanish train company, Renfe, which said its technicians were cooperating with the rescue and investigation operations. The eight-car train, which left Madrid at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, was traveling to Spain’s northwestern coast when it derailed at 8:41 p.m., according to the Spanish train company, Renfe, which said its technicians were cooperating with the rescue and investigation operations.
Seventy-three people were dead at the scene and four died in hospitals, said Maria Pardo Rios, a spokeswoman for the Galicia region’s main court. At least 141 people were injured — some of them critically, The Associated Press reported. Ninety-five people were being treated for injuries, and 36 were in serious condition, including four children, Reuters reported, citing a regional spokeswoman.
Suspicion quickly fell on human error amid suggestions that the train entered a curve at excessive speed. One of the drivers, who was trapped in the cab of the train after the accident, said that the train had taken the curve at more than twice the speed limit of 50 miles per hour, according to an unidentified investigation sources cited by the newspaper El País. The newspaper El País cited an unidentified investigation source in reporting that one of the drivers, who was trapped in the cab of the train after the accident, said that the train had taken the curve at more than twice the speed limit of 50 miles per hour.
“I hope no one died because it will weigh on my conscience,” he was quoted as saying.“I hope no one died because it will weigh on my conscience,” he was quoted as saying.
On Thursday, cranes were used to lift the wreckage off the tracks as rescue workers tried to ensure that all the passengers had been accounted for.On Thursday, cranes were used to lift the wreckage off the tracks as rescue workers tried to ensure that all the passengers had been accounted for.
Earlier, shocked witnesses described the scale of the destruction as the dead were taken to a temporary morgue. Shocked witnesses described the scale of the destruction as the dead were taken to a temporary morgue.
“The road is full of cadavers,” a radio reporter, Xaime López, said on the station Cadena Ser. “It’s striking: you almost can’t even count them.”“The road is full of cadavers,” a radio reporter, Xaime López, said on the station Cadena Ser. “It’s striking: you almost can’t even count them.”
The accident was Spain’s worst train crash since 1972 when 86 people were killed in the southwest of the country. In recent years, Spain has invested heavily in its rail system creating a modern network. The accident was Spain’s worst train crash since 1972, when 86 people were killed in the southwest of the country. In recent years, Spain has invested heavily in its rail system creating a modern network.
Messages of condolence arrived from several capitals and, in a letter to Mr. Rajoy, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident. “Such a serious accident, with so many people dead and injured, is a tragedy for Spain and provokes such deep emotions,” he saidMessages of condolence arrived from several capitals and, in a letter to Mr. Rajoy, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident. “Such a serious accident, with so many people dead and injured, is a tragedy for Spain and provokes such deep emotions,” he said

Frances Robles, Richard Berry and Elias E. Lopez contributed reporting.

Frances Robles, Richard Berry and Elias E. Lopez contributed reporting.