Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

El Virilla train accident

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Location
  
Virilla River Canyon

Date
  
14 March 1926

Country
  
Costa Rica

Trains
  
1

Type of incident
  
Derailment

Number of deaths
  
248

Injuries
  
93

Cause
  
overloaded train / excessive speed

Similar
  
Lagny‑Pomponne rail accident, Tsurumi rail accident, Saint‑Michel‑de‑Maurienne derailment, Gaisal train disaster, Quintinshill rail disaster

The El Virilla train accident occurred in Costa Rica on March 14, 1926 when an overcrowded train carrying mostly farmers and labourers derailed while crossing a bridge across the Virilla River Canyon, killing 248 and injuring 93.

The train concerned was a Sunday excursion from Alajuela and Heredia to Cartago where most intended to visit the statue of the La Negrita at the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, which supposedly has great healing powers. The excursion was arranged to raise money for a home for the elderly by the noted Professor Francisco Gomez Alizago, tickets being inscribed "For the benefit of the elderly of Cartago". A six carriage train was arranged for the trip but proved grossly inadequate as the offer proved to be popular and was greatly over subscribed; no limit being placed on the sale of tickets with over a thousand being sold.

At 7 am, three carriages arrived at Alajuela and left 30 minutes later. Further stops were made and three more carriages were added at Heredia. Despite this many people were unable to board the train, and it even missed out a later stop as it was too crowded to allow any more on. At 8:20 the train began to cross the bridge which lay on a left-hand curve. A combination of a poorly fastened rail and the excessive weight of the train caused the last carriage to derail and pulled two further carriages from the track, one of which plunged 190 feet to the river below, killing 248, including Professor Alizago. The rescue work continued into the evening, several trains returning to Alajuela and Heredia with the bodies, which were left at the stations for identification by friends and families. The government declared three days of national mourning; flags flew at half mast; cinemas, bars and other places of entertainment were closed.

Source (in Spanish)

  • Tragedia del rio Virilla
  • References

    El Virilla train accident Wikipedia