BUENOS AIRES, AR – In a rare and shocking incident, a passenger train collided with an empty boxcar, resulting in derailment and at least 90 injuries in Argentina’s capital on Friday. The unexpected accident has reignited concerns about basic safety measures in the country’s railway system.
The train was en route from Buenos Aires to the northern suburbs when it derailed on a bridge in Palermo, a popular neighborhood, around 10:30 a.m. The reason why the empty boxcar was on the tracks remains unclear, and an investigation is currently underway.
Buenos Aires Mayor, Jorge Macri, commended the quick evacuation of victims from the crash site but admitted that there was still much to be learned about the cause of the incident. “The mechanics of this accident are not yet fully understood,” he stated.
Emergency services were swift to respond, treating dozens of injured passengers on the spot. Thirty individuals were transported to local hospitals with moderate to severe injuries, including chest trauma and broken bones. Two of these were airlifted. Alberto Crescenti, director of the city’s emergency service, confirmed that 90 people had been rescued from the wreckage, some by rope from the highway overpass.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as the train, which had been stationary on the bridge for several minutes, suddenly lurched forward and collided with the other train. This resulted in a violent jolt, sparks, smoke, and eventual derailment.
Following the incident, Trenes Argentinos, the Argentine rail authority, suspended service on the line and urged residents to avoid the crash site to allow emergency responders to secure the area.
This incident has brought renewed attention to Argentina’s rail safety, recalling a series of fatal train crashes between 2012 and 2014 that resulted in over 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries. At that time, it was revealed that the railway system was vulnerable due to outdated infrastructure, delays, and human error, leading to significant government investment in new safety and braking systems.