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Police and rescue workers transport an injured man on a stretcher after a train crashed at Once train station in Buenos Aires on February 22, 2012 (AFP Photo / Juan Mabromata).
At least 49 are reported dead and over 550 injured after a train hit a busy station in Buenos Aires. Some remain trapped inside a damaged carriage.
According to reports the passenger train was going too fast. It failed to slow down approaching the station. At the time it hit the platform its speed was 25 km/h. The train hit the stopping barrier of the platform, crushing the front carriage. The engine and first car were crushed together. One of the carriages was driven nearly six meters into the next.
Passengers said windows exploded as the tops of train cars separated from their floors.
Thousands of people were traveling on the train, and the evacuation of injured passengers continues. Buenos Aires TV stations show emergency workers cutting through the roofs of carriages in order to evacuate remaining passengers.
AP reports at least 49 people have been killed, citing Federal police spokesman. Around 30 remain trapped in the train.
Authorities in Buenos Aires say the machine was in good order, breaks worked well.
“This machine left the shop yesterday. From what we know, it braked without problems at previous stations,” Ruben Sobrero, union chief on the Sarmiento line, told Radio La Red.
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