Buenos Aires train collision: Sixty injured in rush hour accident

Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, quickly arrived at the scene in the Palermo neighborhood of the Argentine capital. They assisted with evacuating passengers and transporting the injured to hospitals. The collision caused the first car of the passenger train to derail and sustain significant damage.

Television and drone footage captured the trains clashing head-to-head on an overpass. Reuters reporters observed passengers being stretchered into ambulances and helicopters, which ferried the most critically injured to city hospitals.

Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos Aires’ emergency medical care system SAME, reported from the scene, “Ninety ambulances responded, and we attended to 90 passengers. Of these, 30 were categorized as code red, indicating severe injuries.” He further noted that two passengers with head and thorax injuries were airlifted to Santojanni Hospital. Despite their conditions, they were conscious but transported first as a precaution. In total, approximately 100 passengers received medical treatment.

Trenes Argentinos, the state-run train operator, confirmed the crash occurred at 10:31 a.m. local time (1331 GMT). An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. The company also noted that services on the San Martin train line were suspended following the accident.