Spain tragedy: 39 killed, over 100 injured as high-speed train derails, rams into another train

PTC News Desk: At least 21 people lost their lives and about 100 others were injured when a high-speed train derailed and crashed into an oncoming service near the town of Adamuz in southern Spain on Sunday evening, police and state broadcaster RTVE reported.

The collision happened in Córdoba province and involved an Iryo high-speed train travelling from Málaga to Madrid and a Renfe train heading from Madrid to Huelva. Reuters cited police confirming the death toll, while RTVE said that at least 25 of the injured were in critical condition. According to Spain’s rail operator Adif, the accident occurred around 6:40 p.m., about ten minutes after the Iryo train left Córdoba bound for Madrid.

Adif stated on social media that the Iryo 6189 Málaga–Madrid service derailed at Adamuz and veered onto a neighbouring track, where it struck the Madrid–Huelva high-speed train, causing it to derail as well. More than 300 people were onboard the Iryo train, and roughly 100 on the Renfe service.

Firefighters, paramedics, police and Red Cross teams rushed to the remote crash location, with rescue efforts stretching late into the night. Many passengers remained trapped inside crushed carriages for several hours.

Córdoba fire chief Paco Carmona told TVE that the Iryo train had been evacuated, but conditions in the Renfe coaches were significantly worse.

“People are still trapped inside. We don’t yet know the exact number of fatalities,” he said. “We have to remove bodies to reach survivors. The operation is extremely challenging.”

Hospitals across Madrid and Andalusia were put on standby, and authorities set up a reception centre in Adamuz, a town of around 5,000 people. Local residents volunteered with food, blankets and warm drinks as temperatures fell overnight.