MADRID, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two separate trains derailed in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia on Tuesday, killing one driver and injuring at least 20 people, five of them seriously, local media reported.
According to Spanish media, one of the accidents took place near the town of Gelida in Barcelona province, where a retaining wall alongside the railway line suddenly collapsed as a train was passing, causing it to derail and damaging the driver's cab. Several outlets confirmed that the driver was killed in the accident.
Emergency services dispatched 11 ambulances and a fire brigade to the scene. Preliminary assessments suggested that heavy rainfall affecting Catalonia in recent days may have led to the collapse of the retaining wall.
A second accident occurred in Girona province, where storm conditions caused rocks to fall onto the tracks, leading to the derailment of a train carrying 10 passengers. No injuries were reported in that incident.
The two train accidents, both involving suburban rail lines, caused significant disruption to rail service on Tuesday evening, local media said.
