Tragic High-Speed Train Derailments in Spain Result in at Least 21 Fatalities

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A high-speed train derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, pushing the second train off the tracks. The collision had killed at least 21 people, police sources confirmed to Reuters.

The accident happened near Adamuz, in Córdoba province. So far, 21 people have been confirmed dead by police, with state broadcaster Televisión Española adding that 100 people had been injured, 25 seriously. The driver of one of the trains, which was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, was among those who died, the TV station added.

At 6:40 p.m. local time, a tragic incident unfolded when an Iryo train, shortly after departing from Córdoba towards Madrid, was involved in a collision.

Iryo is a private rail operator, majority-owned by Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato. The train involved was a Freccia 1000 train, which was travelling between Malaga and Madrid, a spokesperson for Ferrovie dello Stato said.

The company said in a statement that it deeply regretted what had happened and had activated all emergency protocols to work closely with the relevant authorities to manage the situation.

The second train was operated by Renfe, which also did not respond to a request for comment.

The rail operator, Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), has halted all train services between Madrid and Andalusia as a result of the accident.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with several individuals still trapped at the scene. “The exact number of casualties is still unknown, and efforts are focused on extricating people from particularly confined areas,” a spokesperson stated.

Lucas Meriako, who was travelling on the first train that derailed, told LaSexta television that “this looks like a horror movie”.

“We felt a very strong hit from behind and the feeling that the whole train was about to collapse, break … there were many injured due to the glass,” he told Agence France-Presse.

The Iryo train had more than 300 passengers on board, while the Renfe train had around 100.

Paco Carmona, Córdoba fire chief, told TVE the first train heading to Madrid from Malaga had been evacuated.

The other train’s carriages were badly damaged, he said, with twisted metal and seats.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed the nation’s sorrow, stating that the country is experiencing a “night of profound grief.”

Several killed in train derailment in Cordoba, Spain

Meanwhile, Spain’s Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, is closely monitoring the situation from ADIF’s headquarters in Madrid.

Spanish transport minister Óscar Puente said he was following events from ADIF’s headquarters in Madrid.

“The latest information is very serious,” he posted on X.

“The impact was terrible, causing the first two carriages of the Renfe train to be thrown off the track. The number of victims cannot be confirmed at this time. The most important thing now is to help the victims.”

The mayor of Adamuz, Rafael Moreno, told EL PAÍS newspaper that he had been among the first to arrive at the scene of the accident alongside the local police and saw what he believed to be a badly lacerated body several metres from the accident site.

“The scene is horrific,” he said.

“I don’t think they were on the same track, but it’s not clear. Now the mayors and residents of the area are focused on helping the passengers.”