Jul 26, 2013

Police put the driver of a Spanish train under investigation on Thursday after at least 80 people died when it hit a sharp bend at speed, derailed and caught fire near the pilgrimage center of Santiago de Compostela, in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters.

: Health workers take part in a minute’s silence for the victims of a train crash, at University Clinical Hospital in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 26, 2013. The driver of a Spanish train that derailed, killing at least 80 people, was under police guard in the hospital on Friday after the accident, which an official source said was caused by excessive speed. ( Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: A couple embrace as they leave the temporary morgue at Multiusos Fontes do Sar Sport Center after a train crash killing at least 78 people on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

: The first Madrid-Ferrol train service since the accident passes next to the wreckage of the previous one on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

: A truck carrying part of wreckage on a bridge over the track , on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A man looks on from a cafe as a poster with a black ribbon on is displayed on the window in memory of the victims of the train crash , on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A pilgrim leaves his cane next to candles in memory of the train crash victims at the Cathedral of Santiago , on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Candles in memory of the train crash victims are seen at the Cathedral of Santiago , on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Passengers disembark the first train traveling from Madrid to Coruna get off at the Santiago de Compostela train station , on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The high speed train crashed after it derailed on a bend as it approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th. At least 78 people have died and a further 131 are reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities.(David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A woman looks on from a bridge over the rail next to flowers to remember the victims of a train crash that killed 78 people on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: The first train from Madrid destiantion La Coruna since the accident arrives at the Santiago de Compostela train station on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Flowers are left at the scene of a train crash which killed 78 people are seen on a bridge over the track on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Carriages of the crashed train which killed 78 people are carried away on trucks on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A man inspects the rail at the train crash site on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Workers at the train crash scene as a carriage is transported away on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A carriage of the crashed train which killed 78 people is lifted onto a truck on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Workers stand next the train engine of a crashed train that killed 78 on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A man looks on from a bridge over the track next to flowers to remember the victims of a train crash that killed 78 people on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Technicians take pictures of a carriage from the crashed train on a bridge over the track on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A carriage of the crashed train which killed 78 people is lifted onto a truck on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Carriages of the crashed train which killed 78 people are carried away on trucks on July 26, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 78 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A truck transports a carriage from the scene of a train crash on July 26, 2013 at Angrois, near Santiago de Compostela, Spain. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 80 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Miguel Riopa/Getty images)

: The train engine is seen at the site of a train crash in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 26, 2013. The driver of a Spanish train that derailed, killing at least 80 people, was under police guard in hospital on Friday after the accident, which an official source said was caused by excessive speed. (Miguel Vidal/Reuters photo)

: Rescue workers stand amongst the wreckage of a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: Rescue workers pull victims from a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 35 people were killed and 50 injured when a train derailed on the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday in one of the country’s worst rail disasters. Bodies covered in blankets lay next to carriages as smoke billowed from the wreckage a few hundred meters away from the entrance to the city’s main station. (Oscar Corral/Reuters photo)

: An injured passenger is helped by a policeman after a train crashed near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 35 people died after a train derailed in the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, told Cadena Ser radio on Wednesday. A woman who was close to the site of the accident told the radio station that she had first heard a loud explosion and then seen the train derailed. (Oscar Corral/Reuters photo)

: Victims receive help after a train crashed near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 56 people died after a train derailed in the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, told Television de Galicia. (Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/via Reuters)

: Victims are helped by rescue workers after a train crashed near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 56 people died after a train derailed in the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, told Television de Galicia. (Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/via Reuters)

: A wounded victim sits next to a body covered with a blanket after a train crashed near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 56 people died after a train derailed in the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, told Television de Galicia. (Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia/via Reuters)

: Firefighters watch as a crane removes a carriage from the tracks at the site of a train crash near near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Miguel Vidal/Reuters photo)

: Rescue workers inspect the wreckage of a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, early July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: A train derails in this series of still images from the video of a security camera near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. Video taken July 24, 2013. (via Reuters TV)

: An overhead view of the wreckage of a train crash is seen near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, in this still image from video, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Stringer/Reuters photo)

: An overhead view of the wreckage of a train crash is seen near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, in this still image from video, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Stringer/Reuters photo)

: An overhead view of the wreckage of a train crash is seen near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, in this still image from video, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 77 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Stringer/Reuters photo)

: A relative of one of the victims of a train crash cries as she speaks on a phone in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 78 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: A relative of one of the victims of a train crash cries as she speaks on a phone in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 78 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: Emergency members attend to passengers injured in a train accident that derailed near Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. (Lavandeira Jr./EFE via Zuma Press/MCT)

: Rescue workers help a victim of a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 24, 2013. At least 56 people died after a train derailed in the outskirts of the northern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, told Television de Galicia. (REUTERS/Monica Ferreiros/La Voz de Galicia)

: Relatives of the victims of a train accident react outside the Cersia building, where they are attended by psychologists from the Red Cross in Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24 in northwest Spain killing at least 78 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years.(Cesar Manso/Getty images)

: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (L) and Galicia’s regional President Alberto Nunez Feijoo (R) visit the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Lavandeira Jr/Getty images)

: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (R) and Galicia’s regional President Alberto Nunez Feijoo (2nd R) visit the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Lavandeira Jr/Getty images)

: Rescuers, forensics and police officers work at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Emilio Lavandeira/Getty images)

: A crane removes a derailed train’s car at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Stringer/Getty images)

: Relatives of the victims of a train accident react outside the Cersia building, where they are attended by psychologists from the Red Cross in Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Cesar Manso/Getty images)

: A picture taken on July 24, 2013 shows derailed cars at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela. Between 45 and 50 people died when a train derailed in Galicia in northwestern Spain today, the president of the regional government of Galicia said. The train which carried 238 passengers originated in Madrid and was bound for the northwestern town of Ferrol. (Oscar Corral/Getty Images)

: Relatives of one of the victims of a train crash comfort each other in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, July 25, 2013. A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 78 people and injuring up to 131 in one of Europe’s worst rail disasters. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters photo)

: Rescuers checks a train’s car at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Miguel Riopa/Getty Images)

: A member of the road security department checks inside the locomotive at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on July 25, 2013. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24, 2013 in northwest Spain killing at least 77 passengers and injuring more than 140, an official said today, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years. (Miguel Riopa/Getty Images)

: Relatives of passengers involved in the train crash wait for news at the Cersia Building on July 25, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm on July 24th, at least 77 people have died and a further 131 reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of the Santiago de Compostela Festivities. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Relatives of passengers involved in the train crash comfort each other as they wait for news at the Cersia Building on July 25, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred on Wednesday at 8.40pm as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, with 247 passengers on board. At least 77 people have died and a further 131 have been reported injured. The crash occurred on the eve of Santiago de Compostela’s main religious festival, which has been cancelled by the City’s officials. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: Relatives of passengers involved in the train crash wait for news at the Cersia Building on July 25, 2013 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred on Wednesday at 8.40pm as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, with 247 passengers on board. At least 77 people have died and a further 131 have been reported injured. The crash occurred on the eve of Santiago de Compostela’s main religious festival, which has been cancelled by the City’s officials. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

: A wagon of a crashed train that killed at least 77 people is lifted on July 25, 2013 at Angrois near Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The crash occurred on Wednesday at 8.40pm as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, with 247 passengers on board. At least 77 people have died and a further 131 have been reported injured. The crash occured on the eve of Santiago de Compostela’s main religious festival. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Dramatic video footage from a security camera outside the northwestern city showed the train, with 247 people on board, careering into a wall at the side of the track as carriages jack-knifed and the engine overturned.

One local official described the aftermath of the crash, on the eve of one of Europe’s biggest Christian festivals in the ancient city, as like a scene from hell, with bodies strewn next to the tracks.

One Comment

Al
Jul 26, 2013 @ 06:44:17

The man speaking at the phone is the train driver, he admitted he drove at 190 km/h instead of 80 km/h….

Death toll rises to 80 in deadly Spanish train derailment

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