A Security Camera

A Security Camera's View of High Speed Train Crash in Spain

On Wednesday, July 24, at 8:41pm, as a speeding, eight-car, Alvia express train approached the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from Madrid, security cameras caught the horrific instant it derailed. Taking a tight curve at a high rate of speed, the train crashed into a wall, killing at least 78 people and injuring 178 individuals, including 5 Americans.

“It was going so quickly. It seems that on a curve the train started to twist, and the wagons piled up, one on top of the other,” said Ricardo Montesco, a passenger on the train.

According to Spanish newspaper, El Pais, this dramatic footage captures one of Europe’s worst rail disasters in four decades. The newspaper cited the driver of the train stating immediately after the crash that he had been travelling at 118mph around the curve that listed a speed limit of 49mph.

“We’re human! We’re human! I hope there are no fatalities because they will fall on my conscience,” exclaimed the conductor while trapped in the wreckage. (Source of quote: El Pais)

As of this morning, all 77 bodies have been removed from the wreckage as Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister has declared 3 days of national mourning.

“The scene is shocking, it’s Dante-esque,” said Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the head of Spain’s Galicia region, according to Reuters.

Sources: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/25/19661944-video-captures-high-speed-train-crash-in-spain-at-least-77-killed?lite

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/25/spain-train-crash-death-toll-speed-limit/2585743/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23448002

http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.