- Two trains collided near Barcelona, injuring at least 155 people.
- Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez says she is closely monitoring the situation.
According to emergency services, two trains crashed on the outskirts of Barcelona, injuring at least 155 people.
The crash happened at a station in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia province at around 07:50 (06:50 GMT).
The trains collided when one was parked at the station and were moving in the same direction, according to local media.
Police in Catalonia are looking into how the incident happened.
About 12 kilometers (7 miles) outside of the city center, at the Montcada I Reixac – Manresa station, a collision took place.
Reporters on the scene were informed by emergency services representative Joan Carles Gomez that 155 people had been hurt in the incident, with 14 passengers being sent to a nearby hospital for additional care.
“We’re talking about many bruises and some head injuries, but nothing serious,” he said, adding that the passengers were being examined to “rule out any fractures”.
Mr. Gomez said the train was moving “very slowly (when the collision occurred) but people who were standing up fell over and hurt themselves”.
A spokesman for the regional fire service said the moving train had collided with “the back part” of a stationary train at the station.
Describing the moment of the collision, one passenger told the Ser Catalunya outlet that she had experienced “a tremendous blow” and said that “people were screaming”.
Another passenger told Media that she had seen “people with blood on them, because they had suffered a gash from the blow”.
Regional officials blamed the recent spate of incidents on the regional train system in Catalonia on a lack of finance for the industry on the part of the national government.
Pere Aragonès I Garcia, the head of the Catalan regional government, demanded quick “explanations” regarding the crash’s causes from both the Renfe rail company and the Spanish government.
Additionally, Laura Borràs, the speaker of the regional assembly, stated that it was “imperative” that the incident not be repeated.
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