Train derails in Spain, kills 78

An aerial view showed the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. A train hurtled off the tracks on July 24 in northwest Spain killing at least 78 passengers and injuring more than 140 in the country’s deadliest rail disaster in more than 40 years.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (right) and Alberto Nunez Feijoo, president of the Galicia region (second from left), visited the accident site.

People stood near the derailed cars at the accident site. The train originated in Madrid and was bound for the northwestern town of Ferrol.

A fireman worked to remove a carriage at the accident scene. Investigators focused on whether excessive speed was to blame for the crash.

People watched at the scene. The crash occurred on June 24 at 8:40 p.m. as the train approached Santiago de Compostela on the eve of the city’s main religious festival, which has now been canceled by city officials.

Civil Defence staff members held a blanket covering relatives of passengers involved in the train crash.

Relatives of the victims of a train accident reacted outside the Cersia building, where they were attended by psychologists from the Red Cross in Santiago de Compostela.

Relatives of passengers involved in the crash comforted each other as they waited for news at the Cersia Building.

Relatives of passengers and members of the Red Cross waited outside the Cersia Building.

A member of the road security department checked inside the locomotive.

Rescuers checked a train’s car at the site.

Rescue workers sat on the rails near the train wreckage.

Emergency personnel conducted rescue operatiosn at the site.

Firefighters watched as a crane removed a carriage from the tracks.