80 dead in Spain train derailment

Eighty people are dead and 94 have been hospitalized after a train derailed in northwestern Spain on Wednesday.

Officials said the high-speed passenger train came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela, 95 kilometres south of El Ferrol in the Galicia region.

An Associated Press analysis of video images suggests the train may have been travelling at twice the 80 km/h speed limit, or more, along that curved stretch of track

There were 218 passengers and five crew members on board, officials said Thursday. Seventy-three victims were pronounced dead at the scene while the others died in hospital. Of the 94 injured, 31 people including four children are said to be in critical condition.

Investigators are now trying to determine what causes the eight-car train to derail.

The crash occurred on the eve of Santiago de Compostela’s main religious festival, which has been cancelled by the city’s officials. Every year, Catholic pilgrims visit the city for a festival honouring St. James. His remains are said to rest in the city.

Photographer Xabier Martinez at the scene told The Associated Press that he saw dozens of what appeared to be dead bodies being extracted from the wreck by emergency workers on Wednesday evening.

At least one train car snapped in two, and another caught fire. Rescue crews and fellow passengers pulled bodies through broken windows as stunned survivors looked on.

“The train travelled very fast and derailed and turned over on the bend in the track,” passenger Sergio Prego told Cadena Ser radio station.

“It’s a disaster. I’ve been very lucky because I’m one of the few be able to walk out.”

Officials would only say they believed the crash was an accident, declining to give further details.

It was Spain’s deadliest train accident since 1972, when 77 people were killed following the derailment of a train heading to Seville, the Europa Press news agency reported.

At this point there are no reports of Canadians being on the train. But an American was counted among the dead.

With files from The Associated Press

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