Passengers aboard a train involved in a deadly crash in Spain recounted the moment rescuers used axes to break through windows and assist them in escaping the wreckage. The tragic incident occurred when a high-speed train en route to Madrid derailed and collided with another train in Adamuz, resulting in the loss of at least 39 lives and leaving 170 individuals injured.
Witnesses shared accounts of the chaos following the crash, with images showing destroyed carriages and rescue teams employing drastic measures to aid the injured. Salvador Jiménez, a journalist on one of the trains, likened the impact to an earthquake and described how emergency personnel swiftly utilized axes to break windows for evacuation.
The first train, operated by Iryo and carrying approximately 300 passengers, veered off the tracks, while the second train, operated by Renfe, was transporting around 200 individuals. Survivors described moments of terror, with screams echoing amidst the darkness as they were thrown from their seats.
One passenger, Lola, expressed gratitude for a last-minute decision to change carriages, which likely saved her life. She recounted the chaos and injuries suffered by fellow passengers as they struggled to escape the wrecked train carriages.
The tragic rail crash, deemed the worst in Spain in over ten years, has claimed 39 lives, with 170 injured and 75 hospitalized, including 15 individuals in critical condition. Spain’s transport minister warned that the death toll may rise further, emphasizing the ongoing efforts of rescue teams and extending condolences to the victims and their families during this heartbreaking time.