Train Collision in Spain Kills At Least 39, Injuring Dozens
Adamuz, Spain – A high-speed train derailment in southern Spain on Sunday evening has resulted in at least 39 deaths and dozens of injuries, marking the country’s deadliest rail accident in over a decade. The collision occurred near the town of Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, when a train traveling towards Madrid derailed and collided with an oncoming train.
Spanish authorities confirmed that approximately 400 passengers and staff were onboard both trains. Emergency services responded swiftly, treating 122 individuals at the scene. As of Monday morning, 48 people remain hospitalized, including 11 adults and one child in intensive care. The death toll is preliminary and may rise as rescue efforts continue, according to Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
“The situation is extremely strange,” Puente stated to reporters in Madrid, adding that railway experts are baffled by the cause of the accident. The collision occurred at 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on a straight section of track, roughly an hour after the train departed Málaga. The force of the impact pushed carriages of the southbound train into an embankment.
The train involved in the initial derailment was a Freccia 1000, an Italian-built high-speed train capable of reaching speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph), according to a spokesperson for Ferrovie dello Stato, the Italian rail company.
Rescue workers faced significant challenges navigating the twisted wreckage to reach those trapped inside. Francisco Carmona, Córdoba’s fire chief, described the harrowing conditions to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, stating, “We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.”
Journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was traveling on one of the trains, recounted the impact as feeling “like an earthquake.”
The accident has prompted an outpouring of grief and concern from national and international leaders. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his sorrow, stating the country was enduring “a night of deep pain.” King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia conveyed their concern and condolences, extending their support to the victims and their families. Expressions of sympathy also arrived from French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended indefinitely, with disruptions expected to continue throughout Monday. Iryo, the private rail operator of the Málaga-bound train, reported around 300 passengers were onboard, while the Renfe-operated train traveling towards Huelva carried approximately 100 passengers.
This tragedy echoes Spain’s worst high-speed rail accident in 2013, which occurred in Galicia and claimed 80 lives. Spain boasts the second-largest high-speed rail network in the world, trailing only China, with over 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) of track.
An investigation into the cause of the derailment is underway, with preliminary findings not expected for at least a month, according to the Transport Minister. Authorities are urging anyone with information or concerns about loved ones who may have been traveling on either train to contact emergency services. The Spanish Red Cross has deployed support teams to the scene and is offering counseling services to affected families.
