At least 21 people were killed and over 100 injured in a devastating head on train collision in southern Spain. The accident occurred on Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province, Andalusia. A high speed train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and entered the adjacent track, where it struck an oncoming train from Madrid to Huelva. The violent impact turned the site into one of Spain’s worst rail disasters in recent years.
Rail network operator Adif said the Malaga to Madrid train met with the accident just ten minutes after departure at 6:40 pm. The derailment happened on a straight section of track that had been renovated in May last year. Transport Minister Oscar Puente described the incident as highly unusual and confirmed that a full investigation is underway, with findings expected within a month.
The Malaga Madrid service was operated by private company Iryo and was carrying around 300 passengers. The Madrid Huelva train, run by state operator Renfe, had nearly 100 passengers on board. The driver of the Renfe train was among those killed.
Rescue operations began immediately, with police, firefighters and the Spanish Red Cross rushing to the scene. Several coaches were badly crushed, trapping passengers for hours and making rescue efforts extremely difficult and risky.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called it a night of deep sorrow. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia expressed condolences to the victims’ families. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also conveyed sympathy.
Train services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended for at least 24 hours, and help centers were opened at major stations. The tragedy recalls the 2013 Galicia crash that killed nearly 80 people.
