Tragic High-Speed Train Crash in Southern Spain Claims 20 Lives

Madrid: A high-speed train has derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain, killing at least 20 people and injuring 100 others, 25 seriously, officials say. The accident happened near Adamuz, in Cordoba province. The driver of one of the trains, which was travelling from Madrid to Huelva, was among those who died, according to Spain’s national broadcaster. “The Iryo 6189 Malaga to Madrid train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train, which was travelling on the adjacent track, has also derailed,” Spanish rail operator Adif said in a social media post. Adif said the accident happened at 6.40pm on Sunday (5.40am Monday, AEDT). The Iryo service had more than 300 passengers on board, while the other train, operated by Renfe, was carrying about 100. 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, 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 authorities to manage the situation. Renfe did not respond to a request for comment. All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended, Adif said. Social media images showed one carriage off the rails and tilted at an angle, with emergency workers attempting to rescue passengers through its broken windows. Spain’s King Felipe VI said he and Queen Letizia were following the situation “with great concern”. “We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead, as well as our love and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured,” the royal palace said on social media. Horrific scene Cordoba fire chief, Paco Carmona, told Spanish television that 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. “There are still people trapped. We don’t know how many people have died, and the operation is concentrating on getting people out of areas which are very narrow,” he told TVE. “We have to remove the bodies to reach anyone who is still alive. It is proving to be a complicated task.” Transport Minister Oscar Puente said he was following events from rail operator 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.” Local mayor Rafael Moreno told El País newspaper that he had been among the first to arrive at the scene alongside the 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.” Images on local television showed a reception centre set up for passengers in the town of Adamuz, population 5000, with people bringing food and blankets amid nighttime temperatures of around 6 degrees. A woman named Carmen posted on X that she had been on board the Iryo train to Madrid. “Ten minutes after departing (from Cordoba), the train started to shake a lot, and it derailed from coach 6 behind us. The lights went out.” Social media footage posted by another Iryo passenger showed a staff member in a fluorescent jacket instructing passengers to remain in their seats in the darkened carriages, and those with first aid training to keep watch over fellow passengers. He also urged people to maintain their mobile phone batteries to be able to use their torches when they disembarked.