At least 39 individuals have lost their lives following a devastating collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain. The tragic incident occurred near Cordoba at approximately 19:45 on Sunday, when the rear of a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with an oncoming service from Madrid to Huelva. Rescue operations continued through Monday as Spanish police confirmed the casualties.
The regional leader of Andalusia, Juan Moreno, reported that 75 passengers were transported to hospitals, with 15 individuals in serious condition. Most of the injured were treated in hospitals in Cordoba, located approximately 390 kilometres south of Madrid. The Spanish Red Cross established a support centre in the nearby town of Adamuz, providing assistance to emergency responders and families seeking information.
Rescue teams, including members of Spain’s civil guard and civil defence, worked throughout the night at the crash site. Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes as passengers attempted to escape the wreckage. Salvador Jiménez, a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, was on board one of the derailed trains. He recounted a moment of terror when passengers utilized emergency hammers to break free from the mangled carriages. “There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,” Jiménez reported.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente characterized the incident as “truly strange,” noting it occurred on a flat stretch of track that had undergone renovations in May. He confirmed that the train which derailed was less than four years old, operated by the private firm Iryo. The second train, which suffered the most damage, is owned by Spain’s public rail operator Renfe. According to Puente, the rear section of the Iryo train derailed and impacted the front of the Renfe service, causing significant damage and knocking two of its carriages down a four-metre (13-foot) slope.
Authorities have suspended train services between Madrid and various cities across Andalusia as they assess the damage and initiate a thorough investigation. Puente indicated that the investigative process could span approximately a month, as officials work to determine the precise circumstances that led to this tragedy.
Spain boasts the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with trains capable of speeds exceeding 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph) and over 3,100 kilometres (1,900 miles) of track. The network is known for its affordability and safety, with more than 25 million passengers utilizing Renfe’s high-speed trains in 2024 alone. The country has experienced its deadliest train crash this century in 2013, when a derailed train in the northwest resulted in 80 fatalities. Investigations later revealed that the train was operating at 179 kilometres per hour (111 mph) on a section of track where the speed limit was 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).
As the nation mourns, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind this catastrophic event and ensuring the safety of its extensive rail network.
