A devastating high-speed rail accident late Sunday in southern Spain has left at least 21 people dead and dozens injured, after one train derailed and slammed into another, according to local authorities.
The crash is Spain’s deadliest train disaster since 2013, when 80 people were killed after a train derailed on a curved track in the country’s northwest. Spain operates the second-largest high-speed rail network in the world, making Sunday’s tragedy particularly shocking.
What Happened?
The collision occurred at around 7:45 p.m. in Adamuz, a town in the southern province of Córdoba. A privately operated high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed first. Several of its rear carriages fell onto the opposite track, where they were struck by an oncoming high-speed train operated by Renfe, Spain’s national rail company, which was en route to Huelva, west of Seville.
Train operator Iryo confirmed that approximately 300 passengers were on board the derailed train at the time of the accident. Renfe has not yet disclosed how many passengers were traveling on its service.
Rail Services Suspended
Spain’s state-owned rail infrastructure agency announced that rail traffic between Madrid and key cities in Andalusia—including Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, and Huelva—will remain suspended on Monday as investigations and recovery operations continue.
Emergency responders worked through the night searching the wreckage, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts progress.
Cause of the Derailment Under Investigation
Unlike the 2013 crash, which occurred on a curved section of track, Sunday’s derailment happened on a straight stretch of recently renovated railway, deepening the mystery surrounding the incident.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the accident as highly unusual.
“The train was only a few years old, and the track had been refurbished recently,” he said. “The accident is extremely strange. It happened on a straightaway, and experts are completely baffled.”
Puente added that the scale of the tragedy would have been far smaller had there not been an oncoming train on the adjacent track.
An independent investigative commission has been launched to determine the cause of the derailment.
National Response and Rescue Efforts
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying the entire nation stands with them during this moment of grief.
“Tonight is a night of deep pain for our country,” he wrote on social media.
The Andalusian regional government has established a medical post near the crash site, while Córdoba’s city authorities have issued an urgent appeal for doctors to assist in treating the injured.
Paco Carmona, head of Córdoba’s fire brigade, said rescue teams were focusing on passengers trapped inside the two carriages that sustained the most severe damage, as emergency operations continue.
