A tourist train derailed during a local festival in Cártama, southern Spain, on Saturday, leaving 17 people injured, three of them critically. The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m.
local time when the vehicle, a road train used to transport visitors around the town's feria grounds, overturned on a sharp bend. Emergency services, including ambulances and fire crews, arrived within minutes. The injured were taken to hospitals in Málaga and the surrounding area.
Local reports indicate that the train was operating with a permit issued by the town hall. However, questions are being raised about the safety of such vehicles on uneven terrain and during crowded events. The accident has reignited a national debate about the regulation of tourist trains, which are commonplace at Spanish festivals but have been involved in several incidents in recent years.
Spain's Ministry of Transport has yet to comment on whether a formal investigation will be launched. The local authority has declared a day of mourning and suspended further festivities.
