Cordoba, Spain– At least 21 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a deadly collision involving two high-speed trains in southern Spain, triggering a nationwide suspension of rail services and an urgent investigation into the cause of the disaster.
Spanish authorities warned on Monday night that the death toll could rise, as rescue teams continued working through twisted wreckage near the town of Adamuz, close to Cordoba.
According to Spain’s rail network operator Adif, a high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed on a straight section of track before crossing onto another rail line and crashing into an oncoming train heading from Madrid to Huelva.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as “extremely strange,” noting that the track had been refurbished in May last year and showed no obvious structural defects.
“The fact that this happened on a straight stretch makes it particularly concerning,” Puente said.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
- 21 confirmed dead
- Over 30 seriously injured and admitted to hospital
- 73 people injured in total, according to Andalusian emergency services
Rescue crews said the severity of the impact complicated recovery efforts.
“We have had to remove bodies just to reach survivors,” Cordoba Fire Chief Francisco Carmona told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
Emergency teams, including the Spanish Red Cross, were deployed to the scene, while counselling services were offered to traumatised families.
Passengers and Train Details
- The derailed train, operated by private firm Iryo, was carrying about 300 passengers
- The second train, operated by Renfe, had roughly 100 passengers
- The trains involved were Freccia 1000 models, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h
A journalist travelling aboard one of the trains described the collision as feeling like an earthquake.
All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were immediately suspended following the crash and will remain closed until further notice.
Adif said major stations, including Atocha, Seville, Cordoba and Malaga, will stay open overnight to assist stranded passengers and relatives.
National and International Reaction
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the tragedy as a “night of deep pain” for the country.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also issued a statement expressing condolences to victims’ families.
International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sent messages of solidarity with Spain.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and officials say a full investigation could take at least one month.
The disaster has revived memories of Spain’s 2013 Galicia train crash, which killed 80 people, marking one of the deadliest rail accidents in the country’s history.
