In south-east Spain, a crane arm collided with a train carrying over a dozen passengers, resulting in minor injuries to six individuals in Alumbres, near Murcia, during midday. This incident occurred shortly after Spain experienced its most severe railway accident since 2013, with 43 fatalities and numerous injuries from a high-speed train collision in Adamuz, Cordoba. Subsequently, another train accident near Barcelona claimed the life of the driver and left 37 others injured, including five in critical condition.
The collision near Los Partidarios involved the train hitting an elevated work platform owned by an electricity company, causing damage to a window and resulting in minor injuries to six passengers. Following these tragic events, Spain’s primary train drivers’ union initiated a three-day nationwide strike as a response to the recent deadly crashes, emphasizing the importance of ensuring railway safety.
Emergency services responded promptly, transferring the injured passengers to nearby hospitals for treatment. Among the injured were individuals ranging from 18 to 74 years old. The disruption in train services was due to the intrusion of a non-railway crane into the infrastructure gauge. Fortunately, despite the collision, only minor injuries were reported among the 16 passengers onboard.
The scene near Cartagena witnessed a coordinated effort by emergency services, including police and firefighters. According to the region’s emergency services, the train remained upright and on the tracks during the incident in Los Partidarios. This collision is part of a series of recent train accidents in southern Spain, highlighting the urgency of improving railway safety measures in the country.