A devastating collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people and left over 100 injured. The incident occurred Sunday evening near Adamuz, a town in the province of Córdoba, when a derailed train struck an oncoming service. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities are investigating the cause of the “extremely strange” accident.
The tragic event unfolded around 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday. A northbound train operated by Iryo, traveling from Málaga to Madrid, derailed as it approached Adamuz station. The rear cars of this train encroached onto the adjacent track, colliding with a southbound Renfe train bound for Huelva from Madrid. The impact caused the first two cars of the Renfe train to fall down a 12-foot embankment.
Regional authorities reported that at least 40 people lost their lives in the crash, with 43 remaining hospitalized on Monday, including 12 in intensive care, nine of whom were in serious condition. Survivors described harrowing scenes of chaos and destruction. Rescue teams worked through the night amidst difficult conditions, with fears that more victims might be found trapped within the mangled train cars. The town of Adamuz mobilized its residents, with many using their cars as makeshift ambulances and providing aid to the injured.
Spanish authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the derailment. Transport Minister Óscar Puente stated that investigators are examining whether a break in a section of track was the cause or a consequence of the incident. He noted that the accident occurred on a straight stretch of track and that the train involved was relatively new, with the track section having been renovated in May. Experts are reportedly baffled by the circumstances, and the Spanish Union of Railway Drivers had previously raised concerns about potential flaws in the country’s rail infrastructure.
High-speed train services between Madrid and several major cities in southern Spain, including Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, and Huelva, have been suspended. Spain’s railway infrastructure operator, Adif, indicated that disruptions could last for several days, affecting millions of passengers who use the country’s extensive high-speed rail network annually.
This incident is the deadliest train crash in Spain since 2013, when a high-speed train derailment in Galicia claimed 80 lives. Spain boasts the second-longest high-speed rail network in the world, surpassed only by China.