- A high-speed train derailed on Sunday around 7.30 p.m. local time (1830 UTC), jumping the track and hitting an oncoming train
- The train that derailed was carrying around 300 passengers from Malaga to Madrid
- The second train was carrying around 200 passengers from Madrid to Huevla
- The collision happened near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province
- Rescue operations are still underway, with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez calling it ‘a night of pain’ for the nation
- Train services between Madrid and cities in Andalusia are suspended for Monday
- Spain has Europe’s largest of high-speed rail network over 250km/h (155 mph), which spans more than 3,100 kilometers (1,900 miles) in length
At least 21 people were killed and scores injured after a high-speed passenger train derailed and collided with an oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday evening, triggering one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in recent years.
The accident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. local time near the town of Adamuz, approximately 40 kilometers northeast of the city of Cordoba, in the Andalusia region. The high-speed train was travelling from Malaga to Madrid when it suddenly left the track, crossed onto an adjacent line and slammed into another train heading from Madrid to Huelva.
Spanish rail infrastructure operator ADIF confirmed that both trains derailed following the impact. Local media reported that nearly 500 passengers were onboard the two trains at the time of the collision, dw.com reports.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as night fell, battling freezing temperatures and difficult terrain. At least 75 passengers were taken to hospital, including 15 to 30 reported to be in serious condition. Most of the injured were transferred to medical facilities in Cordoba, while rescue teams worked through the night to recover bodies from the wreckage.
Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno described the incident as “a night of pain,” warning that the death toll could rise. Health minister Antonio Sanz said the situation at the site was “very serious,” noting that at least one carriage had rolled down a four-meter slope and several wagons were severely mangled.
Passengers who escaped without injuries were evacuated to a sports center in Adamuz, where they were given emergency blankets and food while awaiting buses to continue their journeys. Some survivors described smashing windows with emergency hammers to escape the wreckage.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, calling the crash “a night of deep pain for the entire country.” King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed their sympathy and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the cause of the derailment was still under investigation, describing it as “really strange” that such an accident occurred on a straight section of track that had been renewed only months ago.
Following the crash, all high-speed rail services between Madrid and major Andalusian cities — including Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, Granada and Huelva — were suspended for at least 24 hours. Assistance centers were set up at key railway stations to support relatives of the victims.
Spain has one of Europe’s largest high-speed rail networks, spanning more than 3,100 kilometers, and the tragedy has reignited questions over rail safety despite the system’s strong safety record.
As investigations continue, the nation remains in mourning over a disaster that has left families shattered and a country searching for answers.
