A devastating train collision in southern Spain has left at least 40 people dead and dozens more injured, marking one of the worst railway accidents Europe has seen in 80 years. The incident, which occurred on a straight section of track near the city of Cordoba, has baffled investigators as they work to uncover the precise cause.
According to initial reports, the incident was triggered by a faulty joint on the rail track, which created a gap that widened as trains continued to travel along the line. Experts on the scene identified wear and tear on the joint, known as a fishplate, suggesting the issue had been present for some time.
The accident occurred on Sunday evening when a high-speed Iryo train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided head-on with another train heading to Huelva. The Iryo train was travelling at around 110 km/h, while the second train was speeding at 200 km/h when the collision occurred.
Rescue workers have faced significant challenges in retrieving the bodies from the wreckage, with the death toll now standing at 40. Twelve people remain in intensive care, and a total of 43 missing person reports have been filed across several police stations in the region.
Notably, the section of track where the accident took place had undergone renovation just last May, further puzzling investigators. Andalusia’s regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, described the incident as “extremely strange” given the straight nature of the track.
The tragedy has also shone a spotlight on the broader issues plaguing Spain’s high-speed rail network, the largest in Europe and the second-largest in the world after China. The state-owned rail infrastructure administrator, ADIF, has previously reported problems with infrastructure at the Adamuz area, including signalling failures and issues with overhead power lines, which have caused delays on the network.
The government has faced criticism for a series of delays on the network, often attributed to power outages and the theft of copper cables from the lines. The network’s vulnerability to such incidents is a concern, as it crosses vast swathes of the Spanish countryside.
As the investigation continues, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised transparency and vowed to uncover the root cause of the devastating accident. The high-speed line connecting Madrid and Andalusia is expected to remain closed until at least February 2, as authorities work to restore normal service in the area.
The harrowing accounts of survivors, who have described the chaos and horror of the incident, have only amplified the sense of tragedy surrounding this latest blow to Spain’s high-speed rail network. As the nation grapples with the aftermath, questions remain about the long-term implications for the safety and reliability of this critical transportation infrastructure.
