At least 18 people have been injured after a tourist train overturned in the town of Cartama, near Malaga.

The accident happened at around 9.30pm on Saturday, in the area between Ruta de la Tapa and El Coctel in Cartama Pueblo.

Images from the scene show one of the train’s carriages lying on its side in the middle of the road as emergency services rushed to assist those involved.

In an update issued at 11.05pm, Cartama Town Hall confirmed that multiple people had been hurt in the incident.

A statement said: ‘Several people have been injured due to the overturning of one of the carriages of the road train on the Ruta de la Tapa and El Coctel route in the Cartama Pueblo area shortly after 9.30pm.’

Police officers, firefighters, Guardia Civil officers, paramedics, road maintenance teams and members of the municipal government were all deployed to the scene.

Malaga’s firefighting service said: ‘Our Coin crew responded last night following the overturning of a tourist train carrying around 30 people on Calle Santo Cristo in Cartama.

‘We provided first aid to the injured, supporting the healthcare services, as well as carrying out preventative safety measures and helping to stabilise the overturned carriage.

‘The current toll is estimated at 18 injured people – nine adults and nine children aged between five and 17 – who were treated by medical staff and transported to various hospitals either by ambulance or by their own means.

‘Colleagues from the Alhaurin de la Torre crew also travelled to the scene, but after assessing the situation, their assistance was not required.’

The cause of the accident remains unknown and an investigation is expected to determine what led to the carriage overturning.

The incident occurred during Cartama’s popular Ruta de la Tapa event, which attracts large crowds each year as visitors move between participating bars and restaurants across the town.