At least 21 Killed in High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain

At least 21 people have been killed and more than 70 injured after a high-speed train derailed and collided with another train in southern Spain, authorities said on Sunday.
The accident occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Córdoba, when a high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto another track, according to Spain’s rail network operator Adif. The derailed train then collided with an oncoming service traveling from Madrid to Huelva.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente said more than 30 people are being treated for serious injuries in hospital, warning that the death toll could rise. Andalusian emergency services confirmed that at least 73 people were injured in total.
Puente described the incident as “extremely strange,” noting that the derailment occurred on a straight stretch of track that had been refurbished in May last year. The official cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigators say a full inquiry may take at least a month.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country would endure a “night of deep pain” following the disaster.
Private rail operator Iryo said around 300 passengers were on board the train that first derailed, while the second train, operated by state-run Renfe, was carrying about 100 passengers.
Rescue crews said the twisted wreckage made it difficult to reach survivors. Córdoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told RTVE that rescuers had to remove bodies in order to access people who were still alive.
The crash happened about 10 minutes after the train left Málaga at 18:40 local time, Adif said. Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the accident and will remain closed on Monday.
The train involved was a Freccia 1000, capable of reaching speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph), according to Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato.
Emergency services and the Spanish Red Cross have been deployed to the scene, while counselling is being offered to families of victims. The Emergency Agency of Andalucía urged survivors to post on social media to confirm they are alive.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following the news with “great concern,” offering condolences to the families of those who died and wishing a swift recovery to the injured. Messages of sympathy have also been sent by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
The tragedy has revived painful memories of Spain’s worst high-speed rail accident in 2013, when a derailment in Galicia killed 80 people.