At least 155 people were injured this Wednesday when two trains collided near a station in the Spanish city of Barcelona due to circumstances that are being investigated, according to local authorities.
The collision occurred at 7:50 in the morning, during rush hour, when a convoy struck another detainee at low speed on a platform at the Montcada y Reixac station, some 12 miles north of Barcelona.
Commission in Barcelona. Europa Press via Getty Images
"It has been heard like an explosion," Marta, one of the passengers, assured the local newspaper El Periódico de Catalunya, "the lights in the carriage have gone out, the suitcases that were in the upper compartments have fallen. It hit me an anxiety attack."
Some 1,300 people traveled on both trains, according to sources from Renfe, the public company that manages passenger transport in Spain, quoted by the newspaper La Vanguardia.
Of the 155 injured, 39 had to be hospitalized, although there were no serious injuries.
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The collision caused many people to hit the walls of the cars or fall on top of other passengers.
Most suffered arm and leg injuries, as well as neck problems.
Almost all those affected were able to get out of the trains on their own feet, although somewhat dazed by the impact.
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"The train was very full"
"I was on the train that was stopped and that has been hit by another. [There have been] moments of panic, screams and anguish. This lack of security is intolerable," Josep Jorge protested to the newspaper La Vanguardia.
"We were waiting for the train and we heard a crash. The stationary train has moved two meters (about six feet) and has stopped. Many people have fallen due to the impact because the train was very full," explained Pol Viñas, for his part. another witness, to the local radio Ser Cataluña.
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The Spanish Minister of Transport, Raquel Sánchez, who went to the place in the morning, confirmed that "the judicial police have come to take statements" from those affected and that "the reasons for the collision are being analyzed."
However, the minister ruled out that the thick fog with which the area rose in the morning could have had something to do with it.
"The important thing is not to make assumptions," she stressed.
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"The crash was great and we all ran into the person in front of us. A lot of people have had their noses bled from the concussion, broken glasses...", explained Míriam Baró, with a cut on her face, to the newspaper El Periódico.
"People have been shot," said Laura Altamira, another of those affected, "It has been a tremendous whiplash.
A lot of people have hurt their knees, their chests, cuts… People have started crying from fright, a lot of nerves… And it could have been much worse".