General

A train driver has died and at least 37 others have been hurt, with five of them suffering serious injuries, after a commuter train went off the tracks and crashed near Barcelona. This tragic event happened just days after a separate two-train collision in southern Spain. Local officials reported that on Tuesday evening, a Rodalies train hit a retaining wall that had fallen onto the tracks between Gelida and Sant Sadurní. According to Catalonia's regional fire Inspector Claudi Gallardo, all passengers have been evacuated from the train. The accident took place during heavy storms that were hitting north-eastern Spain, with coastal areas in the east and north-west under weather alerts. Emergency services noted that eleven ambulances responded to the scene in Gelida, located about 35km (21.7 miles) west of Barcelona, to treat the injured. The local fire department dispatched 35 teams to the area and successfully rescued one passenger who was trapped inside the train. They later confirmed that everyone had been evacuated and that crews were searching the area to ensure there were no additional victims. Injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals, including Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge, and Vila Franca. Among the injured, five were listed as seriously hurt, six had less severe injuries, and 26 were in a “mild” condition, according to emergency medical services.