Fatal Argentina Train Crash: The Biggest Crash in 40 years in Argentina
Biggest train crash in 40 years in Argentina happened early morning of Feb. 22. Around 49 people died, 600 injured and several others trapped when a smashed into a wall as it entered the Buenos Aires station in the morning rush hour.
The accident created a strong impact that cars were crumpled and got piled up. One of the vehicles was pushed 6 meters inside other vehicle. Many people got severe bruises and a lot were suffering from traumas including those who were trapped alive inside cars.
According to survivors, there were about 800 people inside. When the train crashed into a retaining wall, passengers were thrown on top of each other while others were hurled on the floor.
Nestor Rodriguez, police spokesman, reported 49 were dead including a toddler. Civil defense authorities said a minimum of 600 people were injured during the accident. Around 200 of them got severely hurt.
At a speed of 20 kilometer per hour, according to Juan Pablo Schiavi, transportation secretary, the train encountered a brake failure while entering the station. The driver failed to stop the train, smashing it into a retaining wall towards the end of the track.
The Head of the city's emergency services office, Alberto Crescenti, said there were about 30 people trapped inside cars loaded in the train. Many were squeezed and shouted desperately for help. There were bodies crushed and blood scattered all over the place.
Rescuers and firefighters had to break windows through the roof to get inside train cars while medical helicopters arrived and landed on the street.
Passengers were saved and dead bodies were recovered. The injured driver of the train was carried away on a stretcher. The Argentine president, Cristina Kirchner, postponed a news conference after hearing the news of the train crash.