by Rachel Ogbu
The death toll has risen to 77 with many more injured after an express train derailed outside Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain.
Train operator, Renfe has confirmed 218 passengers in total and an unspecified number of staff were on the eight-carriage train during the crash on Wednesday.
Spanish authorities have described the tragedy as the country’s worst rail accident for 40 years but is yet to announce what caused the derailment of the train.
“The first thing I saw was the body of a woman. I had never seen a corpse before. But above all what caught my attention was that there was a lot of silence, some smoke and a small fire,” Francisco Otero, 39, who was inside his parents’ home just beside the section of the track where the accident happened told AFP.
“My neighbours tried to pull out people who were trapped inside the carriages with the help of pickaxes and sledgehammers and they eventually got them out with a hand saw. It was unreal.”
According to reports, the train had left Madrid and was heading for the town of Ferrol as the Galicia region was preparing celebrations in honour of its patron saint James.
![All eight carriages came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/ca/205c3fc6623958051676211f555/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/ca/205c3fc6623958051676211f555/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/ca/205c3fc6623958051676211f555/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/ca/205c3fc6623958051676211f555/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
All eight carriages came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela (AP)
![Rescue workers have continued to search for survivors in the train wreckage throughout the night]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f3/7492ecc35d53509ce0f5ce7e4cb919/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f3/7492ecc35d53509ce0f5ce7e4cb919/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f3/7492ecc35d53509ce0f5ce7e4cb919/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f3/7492ecc35d53509ce0f5ce7e4cb919/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Rescue workers have continued to search for survivors in the train wreckage throughout the night (AP)
![Emergency personnel rush to the scene in Santiago de Compostela]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7f/298fc4a918b5306d1b477326a372d2/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7f/298fc4a918b5306d1b477326a372d2/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7f/298fc4a918b5306d1b477326a372d2/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7f/298fc4a918b5306d1b477326a372d2/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Emergency personnel rush to the scene in Santiago de Compostela (AP)
![Police and safety officials inspect the twisted train wreckage]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6b/15b8db425ecdcec1f2c2fad4f48a7e/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6b/15b8db425ecdcec1f2c2fad4f48a7e/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6b/15b8db425ecdcec1f2c2fad4f48a7e/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6b/15b8db425ecdcec1f2c2fad4f48a7e/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Police and safety officials inspect the twisted train wreckage (AP)
![Local people help members of the emergency services]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6c/cd79cdf1dec251c149154922d1c3ac/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6c/cd79cdf1dec251c149154922d1c3ac/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6c/cd79cdf1dec251c149154922d1c3ac/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6c/cd79cdf1dec251c149154922d1c3ac/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Local people help members of the emergency services (AP)
![Volunteers help emergency personnel carry a survivor away on a stretcher]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/a36611ada5c8b913dd8a866a69a5e7/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/a36611ada5c8b913dd8a866a69a5e7/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/a36611ada5c8b913dd8a866a69a5e7/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/a36611ada5c8b913dd8a866a69a5e7/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Volunteers help emergency personnel carry a survivor away on a stretcher (AP)
![Activity was frenzied in the immediate aftermath as survivors were carried from the scene]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/b2d74c5794931cd6ad8fc6bb1c/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/b2d74c5794931cd6ad8fc6bb1c/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/b2d74c5794931cd6ad8fc6bb1c/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/b2d74c5794931cd6ad8fc6bb1c/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Activity was frenzied in the immediate aftermath as survivors were carried from the scene (AP)
![Emergency personnel on the scene]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/95/2c1f13ef5f361a3d439173b8bfe36/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/95/2c1f13ef5f361a3d439173b8bfe36/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/95/2c1f13ef5f361a3d439173b8bfe36/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/95/2c1f13ef5f361a3d439173b8bfe36/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Emergency personnel on the scene (AP)
AP
The scene in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (AP)
Photo: Associated Press
Activity was frenzied in the immediate aftermath as survivors were carried from the scene (Photo: Associated Press)
![Twisted debris is making it difficult for rescuers to locate survivors]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6e/56abc193dea9e998cc084c2697b6/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6e/56abc193dea9e998cc084c2697b6/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6e/56abc193dea9e998cc084c2697b6/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/6e/56abc193dea9e998cc084c2697b6/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Twisted debris is making it difficult for rescuers to locate survivors (AP)
![More wounded are pulled from the wreckage]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/3d/5574a47af5c1ef3a9748375497688/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/3d/5574a47af5c1ef3a9748375497688/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/3d/5574a47af5c1ef3a9748375497688/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/3d/5574a47af5c1ef3a9748375497688/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
More wounded are pulled from the wreckage (AP)
![Emergency services rush to help as the scene unfolds]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/4b/b4eb5148847558997b56be3aa3ff/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/4b/b4eb5148847558997b56be3aa3ff/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/4b/b4eb5148847558997b56be3aa3ff/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/4b/b4eb5148847558997b56be3aa3ff/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
Emergency services rush to help as the scene unfolds (AP)
![A woman is evacuated by emergency personnel at the scene]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/34/a91b27c6b4e8da7537817dcbcf908b/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/34/a91b27c6b4e8da7537817dcbcf908b/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/34/a91b27c6b4e8da7537817dcbcf908b/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/34/a91b27c6b4e8da7537817dcbcf908b/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
A woman is evacuated by emergency personnel at the scene (AP)
![The carnage following the crash]({"default":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e9/27ab2051fc311dec94993fc4d84dea/_h0_w650_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","fill":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e9/27ab2051fc311dec94993fc4d84dea/_h0_w600_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobilelandscape":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e9/27ab2051fc311dec94993fc4d84dea/_h0_w460_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg","mobileportrait":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/e9/27ab2051fc311dec94993fc4d84dea/_h0_w300_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
AP
The carnage following the crash (AP)
Photo: Associated Press
The scene in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Photo: Associated Press)
Photo: Associated Press
Volunteers help emergency personnel carry a survivor away on a stretcher (Photo: Associated Press)
Photo: Associated Press
Emergency personnel on the scene (Photo: Associated Press)
Photo: Associated Press
TRAIN CRASH The scene of a train derailment in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Photo: Associated Press)
Photo: [H/T Associated Press]
oh sorry may those who died in an accident rest in internal peace.