One dead and some 50 injured after train derails in central Catalonia

One person has died and 49 others have been injured after a train derailed in central Catalonia, emergency services said on Tuesday.

The commuter train on the R4 line, which was carrying up to 133 people, came off the tracks following a landslide at 6.15 this morning.

While 83 of the passengers were unharmed, 44 were lightly injured. Five other people with injuries were admitted to hospital, although their condition is not serious.

Emergency services said all passengers have now been evacuated from the train.

Eleven ambulances and 14 firefighter rescue crews were deployed at the scene.

The accident happened between the stations of Vacarisses and Vacarisses Torreblanca on the route between the towns of Manresa and Sant Vicenç de Calders. 

Catalan president Quim Torra went to the scene of the accident and expressed his deep sorrow and condolences to the family of the fatal victim. He also thanked the emergency services for their quick response after the derailment.

The derailing of the train in Vacarisses is the third in this area since 2009. In January 2011, a train with 42 people on board derailed in the station of Vacarisses-Torreblanca, in which 11 people suffered minor injuries, among them the driver. In March 2009, another train derailed following a landslide. No one was injured.

Exclusive images obtained by Catalan television, TV3, show the poor condition of the area where the accident happened. In the images, filmed on Sunday by a train driver, water falls dramatically on the tracks, which can be seen partially flooded.

Catalonia has suffered heavy rains in the last few days. Authorities have promised an investigation.