Spanish authorities reported on Monday that a high-speed train collision in the southern part of the country had claimed the lives of at least 39 individuals, with ongoing efforts to recover more bodies as the death toll is expected to increase. The incident took place at 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday when a train carrying around 300 passengers on the route from Malaga to Madrid derailed and collided with an incoming train heading from Madrid to Huelva.
According to Adif, the rail operator, the impact was most severe on the second train, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers. The collision caused the first two carriages of the second train to derail and fall down a four-meter slope, resulting in a significant number of fatalities in those carriages, as stated by Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente. Emergency services were still searching through the wreckage of the derailed carriages, characterized by twisted metal, as described by Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno.
Videos and images from the scene showed overturned train cars and passengers escaping through shattered windows, some resorting to emergency hammers to break free. Salvador Jiménez, a journalist on board one of the trains, likened the experience to an earthquake. Spanish police reported 159 injuries, with five individuals in critical condition and 24 in serious condition.
The collision occurred near Adamuz, a town in the province of Cordoba, approximately 370 kilometers south of Madrid. While the cause of the crash remained unknown, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to the victims’ families, acknowledging the tragic nature of the event. A sports center in Adamuz was transformed into a makeshift hospital, with the Spanish Red Cross providing assistance to both emergency services and individuals seeking support.
In response to the incident, train services between Madrid and Andalusian cities were suspended on Monday. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed solidarity with the affected region, emphasizing the importance of safety in rail transportation.