In a tragic incident, two high-speed trains collided and derailed near the town of Adamuz in Córdoba province, southern Spain, on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 people and leaving dozens more seriously injured.
The accident occurred around 6:50 pm local time when a train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and crossed over onto the adjacent track, colliding with an oncoming train heading from Madrid to Huelva. The impact caused both trains to derail, with one of the carriages from the Málaga-Madrid train completely overturning.
According to the Spanish rail authority Adif, the accident happened just 10 minutes after the Iryo high-speed train had departed Málaga for Madrid. Eyewitness accounts describe a violent shaking of the train before it derailed, with passengers reporting the sensation of an “earthquake.”
In the aftermath, emergency services rushed to the scene, with reports of injured and trapped individuals. The Spanish Interior Ministry later confirmed that 21 people had been killed, while the Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, stated that 30 people had suffered serious injuries.
Initial estimates suggested that around 400 passengers were on board the two trains at the time of the collision. Footage shared on social media showed Iryo staff instructing passengers to remain in their seats and conserve their phone batteries, as they awaited evacuation.
The President of the Madrid region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, stated that hospitals in the Andalucía region were available to assist if required. The private rail operator Iryo, which ran one of the trains involved, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Spanish government has declared three days of mourning, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describing the incident as “a night of deep pain” for the country. All rail services between Madrid and Andalucía have been suspended as the investigation into the causes of the accident continues.
