At least 21 people have been injured, three of them seriously, after a train derailed in southern Spain this morning.
The incident took place near the town of Arahal in Andalusia just after 10.20am.
It is understood that the third carriage of the train travelling between Malaga and Seville came off the rails due to adverse weather conditions
Accident: Passengers walk away from the train which had been travelling between Malaga and Seville when it derailed near the town of Arahal, Andalusia
Images show injured passengers walking away from the scene of the incident.
Malaga council says 12 ambulances are on the scene, together with two helicopters and other emergency services.
Train operator ADIF blamed the weather for the derailing, and it is reported to have rained heavily in the area.
The company tweeted: ‘The service between the stations of El Sorbito and Arahal has been suspended because of a train derailing, caused by adverse meteorologic conditions.’
A local emergency services coordinator confirmed the seven injuries, saying: ‘Seven people have been injured, three seriously, when a train derailed on the passenger line from Malaga to Seville near the town of Arahal.’
Scene: Emergency services can be seen by the side of the rail in Spain
Train operator ADIF blamed the weather for the derailing, and it is reported to have rained heavily in the area
A helicopter has been called due to difficulty reaching the scene of the accident by road, and local farmers are also said to be participating in the rescue operation.
Arahal mayor Miguel Angel Marquez he was not sure of the exact nature of the injuries but local police had told him they weren’t serious, contradicting emergency services who described three of the casualties as ‘serious.’
He said: ‘It was raining heavily all night and the fields next to the railway line were flooded.
‘A lot of mud has got onto the line and that’s possibly why the train derailed.
‘It hasn’t rained here for a long time and we needed it to rain but not the way it has. It’s not the first time we’ve had heavy rain here but not like this.’
The nationalities of those hurt has not yet been revealed.