77 dead in Spanish train crash

A train has derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela killing at least 77 people.
Some 140 are injured in what is turning out to be one of Europe’s worst ever rail disasters. Officials say it is possible that up to 50 of the injured are in a serious condition – the region’s Health minister said he was aware of 5 people who are in comas at hospitals in Santiago.
The government says it thinks the derailment was an accident not sabotage but reports suggest the train may have been travelling too fast.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who is from the area, will visit the site of the crash later.
Rescue workers are still working through the wreckage in hopes of finding more survivors. Lines of bodies covered with blankets can be seen at the side of the tracks.
In a statement issued this morning, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, has expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and injured.
“My thoughts are with those who have lost family and loved ones in this tragic accident. The Galician region and the city of Santiago is a popular destination for Irish travellers and the Irish Embassy in Madrid has been in contact with the regional authorities since the accident occured. While at this stage, there is no indication of any Irish involvement, the situation is still developing and it will be some time before all of those involved have been identified.
I would ask any family who are concerned for loved ones they believe may have been travelling on the train to contact my Department at 01-4082000”.
It happened just outside the city of Santiago de Compostela where a local festival was due to start last night.
Spanish journalist Miguel Anxo-Murado says the train should have reduced its speed on the stretch of track where it crashed.
“This is an area in which there are very sharp bends – one of them is particularly dangerous – so he should have gone at much, much lower speeds; say 80 kilometres per hour maximum” he said.
“It appears that it was totaling its speed”.
“The reason for that (is) apparently that the train was running with a 5 minute delay” he added.