Landslide caused by heavy rain derails train near Barcelona, Spain

One person was killed and 44 others injured early November 20, 2018, when a train near Barcelona derailed due to a landslide caused by heavy rain. The six-carriage train was carrying 131 passengers, according to operator Adif. Three people sustained serious injuries, AFP reports.

The incident happened at 06:15 LT between Terrasa and Manresa towns, northwest of Barcelona when the train hit landslide debris caused by several days of heavy rain.

The Catalan civil protection agency said two of the six carriages were derailed, adding it had been alerted to the accident by emergency phone calls from passengers, telling them there has been a crash and the train stopped in the dark.

Firefighters and emergency workers evacuated 131 commuters and sent to hospital 11 of the 44 people injured. Three of them are seriously hurt, according to the civil protection agency. 

"We deeply regret this morning’s accident in Catalonia and are offering our assistance to the victims," Adif said. "We have opened an investigation to determine the exact causes of the incident."

Spain was under heavy rain and strong winds over the past couple of days.

One person died on November 18 after a river broke its banks in the northwestern Galicia region.

On the same day, huge waves hit Canary island of Tenerife, sweeping away balconies of a sea-side building, smashing windows and sweeping away cars into the sea.

Featured image credit: AFP (YT video capture)