Santiago de Compostela derailment
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| Santiago de Compostela derailment | |
|---|---|
 Image of the accident from the autopista AP-9. | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | 24 July 2013 20:41 CEST |
| Location | Angrois, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia |
| Coordinates | 42°51′34″N 8°31′40″W / 42.8595°N 8.5277°W |
| Country | Spain |
| Line | Madrid - Ferrol |
| Operator | RENFE |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 56-60 |
| Injured | 126-140 |
The Santiago de Compostela derailment occurred on 24 July 2013 when an Alvia train en route from Madrid to Ferrol derailed just before reaching Santiago de Compostela station. About 60 people were killed and about 125-140 were injured.[1]
Background
Spain has one of the world's most extensive high-speed train systems, run by the government-owned operator RENFE. The RENFE Class 730 passenger train runs on high-speed tracks, but is not the fastest train by the company.[2]
Accident
At 20:41 CEST (18:41 UTC) on 24 July 2013,[3][4] a RENFE Class 730 passenger train on an express route from Madrid Chamartín railway station to Ferrol derailed at Angrois, Santiago de Compostela.[5][6] All 13 carriages of the train derailed as the train rounded a curve; four cars overturned.[6][1] The train was carrying 218 passengers at the time of the crash.[3][7] One of the carriages was torn apart in the accident and another caught fire.[1]
According to state-owned broadcaster RTVE, 60 people were killed and 126 injured. A conflicting report by Cadena SER put the death toll at 56 with 140 injured. Official figures have not yet been released. Twenty of the injures were considered serious.[1] The Santiago de Compostela derailment was the worst train accident in Spain in 40 years, and the first ever on a high-speed track in the country.[6][2]
Reaction
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called an emergency ministerial meeting, saying "I want to express my affection and solidarity with the victims of the terrible train accident in Santiago."[8] He is scheduled to visit the area on 25 July. Regional government leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo remarked "There are bodies lying on the railway track. It's a Dante-esque scene".[6] About 320 Spanish national police were dispatched to the scene of the accident. Festivities planned for 25 July, which is a regional holiday (Día Nacional de Galicia), were cancelled.[6]
Investigation
The Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes Ferroviarios is responsible for the investigation of railway accidents in Spain. Feijoo said it was too early to determine a cause of accident.[6] A government spokesperson said that all signs pointed to the Santiago de Compostela derailment being an accident and said there was no evidence that terrorism was a factor.[2]
Eyewitnesses said the train was driving at high speed before derailing.[4][7][9] One witness said she heard an explosion shortly before the derailment. Two others said they felt a strong vibration before the crash. All reports are unconfirmed at this time.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Michael Winter (24 July 2013). "Reports: 60 dead, 125 hurt when Spanish train derails". USA Today. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ a b c David Roman (24 July 2013). "At Least 56 Die in Train Derailment in Northwestern Spain: State TV". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Descarrilo del tren Alvia Madrid-Ferrol". RENFE. Retrieved 24 July 2013. (Template:Webcite)
- ^ a b "Descarrila un tren de pasajeros en Santiago". El Mundo. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "60 muertos y 126 heridos al descarrilar un tren de pasajeros en Santiago". El Mundo. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dozens die as Spanish train derails in Galicia". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Un tren Alvia descarrila en Santiago". La Voz de Galicia. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Train crash in Spain". Sky News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "At least 35 killed as train derails in northern Spain". Russia Today. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
