In a tragic incident that has shaken the nation, at least 21 people have been killed and dozens more injured following a collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain on Sunday evening. The accident occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Córdoba, when a train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crashed onto a neighbouring track.
The collision involved a second train travelling in the opposite direction, from Madrid to Huelva, which also derailed. According to the Andalusian emergency services, at least 25 people suffered serious injuries, with others sustaining minor wounds.
The accident happened around 10 minutes after the train departed Málaga at 6:40 pm local time (5:40 pm GMT). All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were immediately suspended following the incident.
Iryo, the private rail company operating the journey from Málaga, confirmed the derailment and said that approximately 300 passengers were on board at the time. Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, described the harrowing experience.
“I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed. They called immediately to see if there were people in the health service who could help, they took hammers to break the windows and in the end they evacuated us,” Jimenez said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences and stated that the government is working closely with emergency services to assist those affected. Juanma Moreno, the Andalusian regional president, also conveyed his concern and support for the victims and their families.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, and authorities have launched a thorough inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. This devastating incident has left the nation in mourning and has raised questions about the safety of high-speed rail travel in Spain.