DEATH TOLL FROM SPANISH RAIL CRASH RISES TO 43

MADRID, Jan 22 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The death toll from Sunday's rail crash near the town of Adamuz in the southern Spanish province of Cordoba has risen to 43 after another body was recovered from the wreckage on Wednesday, Spanish authorities confirmed, reported Xinhua.

According to emergency services, a total of 68 people remain hospitalised, including nine in intensive care units, though none are believed to be in life-threatening condition.

The accident occurred at around 7.45 pm local time (1845 GMT) on Sunday when a high-speed train operated by Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed and collided with an oncoming train operated by state-owned Renfe en route from Madrid to Huelva.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing.

Authorities said technical teams are examining both the track infrastructure and the trains involved, stressing that no definitive conclusions have yet been reached.

Spain also recorded two additional rail accidents on Tuesday in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

One driver was killed, and at least 37 passengers were injured when a wall collapsed onto a commuter train near the town of Gelida, while a separate train was derailed by a rockfall near Blanes.

Both incidents were believed to have been caused by torrential rainfall that affected parts of the region in recent days, according to local authorities.  

--BERNAMA-XINHUA