A crane arm collided with a train carrying over a dozen passengers in south-east Spain, resulting in minor injuries to six individuals in Alumbres, near Murcia. This incident occurred midday, as confirmed by the local emergency services.
This collision follows recent tragic railway accidents in Spain, including a fatal crash in Adamuz, Cordoba, where 43 people lost their lives in a high-speed train collision. Additionally, a train derailment near Barcelona claimed one life and left 37 others injured, with five in serious condition.
According to the mayor of Cartagena, the train struck an elevated work platform owned by an electricity company near Los Partidarios, causing minor injuries to six passengers. Emergency services safely evacuated the individuals and provided medical treatment for their injuries.
In response to these accidents, Spain’s major train drivers’ union announced a three-day nationwide strike starting on February 9. The union emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures in railway operations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The injured passengers, including two 18-year-old men, a 62-year-old woman, a 74-year-old woman, and two individuals aged 26 and 50, received medical attention at Santa Lucía Hospital and Virgen del Rosell Hospital.
The rail operator reported that traffic on the affected line was halted due to the crane’s intrusion into the railway infrastructure. Fortunately, only minor injuries were reported among the 16 passengers on board during the collision.
Emergency services, including police and firefighters, responded to the scene near Murcia’s Cartagena, where the collision occurred without derailing the train, as confirmed by the region’s emergency services spokesperson.
The collision took place at Los Partidarios around midday local time, as stated by the Murcia region’s Emergency Coordination Centre. This incident occurred shortly after two fatal train accidents in southern Spain, highlighting the need for improved railway safety measures.