Train kills 12 trying to cross track in Castelldefels, near Barcelona
A tragic night in Catalonia as a high-speed train hit a group of 30 young people who were leaving the platform by crossing over the tracks instead of going through the underpass. They were heading towards the beach for Sant Joan's Eve festivities.
Barcelona (CNA).- At least 12 people have died this Wednesday night when a high-speed train hit a group of young people who were crossing the tracks in the station of Castelldefels Platja, near Barcelona. Officials have confirmed that there are also 14 wounded, 3 critically. The group was heading towards the beach for the celebrations of Sant Joan (Saint John's Day). They arrived to Castelldefels on a train from Barcelona and decided to cross the track rather than using the underpass. "We got off the train, everyone crossed the track and then another train suddenly appeared", said Fernando, a witness.
"I could have been one of the victims", said Fernando, who confirmed that he did not see the train approaching the station. This witness described the scene just after the accident as "horrific", with "mutilated people", "heads" and human body parts everywhere.
The Catalan Minister for Home Affairs, Joan Saura, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, and described the accident as "terrible". The president of the Spanish rail network Renfe, Teófilo Serrano, said that he was "shocked" by the scene. He said that it "makes no sense" to try to find the reasons of the accident right now, and that the priority is on the victims and their families. The Spanish Government, responsible for the station and the high-speed train, has confirmed that there will be an investigation.
T
eams of medical staff, police and firefighters are at the station. The scientific units of the Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, are trying to identify the bodies of the victims, which will be sent to the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia for the forensic analyses.