At least 40 people were killed and more than 550 injured Wednesday when a suburban train derailed at a station in central Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Civil Defence director Daniel Russo confirmed, dpa reported.
The number of dead may continue to rise because several of the injured are in critical condition and being treated in city hospitals, Alberto Crescenti, head of the city's emergency health services, told reporters more than four hours after the accident.
Crescenti said there was no longer anyone trapped inside the train.
The train had entered Once station at 26 kilometres per hour, Argentine Transport Minister Juan Pablo Schiavi said. Arriving at 8:30 am (1130 GMT), it was reportedly carrying around 2,000 people during the rush hour.
"We think there was a problem with the brakes," Schiavi said.
Since it could not stop, the train apparently crashed into the shock absorbers at the end of the platform, causing the first two cars in the convoy to become entangled.
In September, 11 people died and over 200 were injured when a suburban train crashed into a bus in Buenos Aires.