By: The Trek News Desk
At least 21 people have lost their lives in a major accident involving high-speed trains in southern Spain, while more than 30 passengers are reported to be in critical condition. Authorities have warned that the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue through the night.
The tragic incident occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Córdoba. According to Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif, a high-speed train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and veered onto an adjacent track, where it collided head-on with another train coming from Madrid to Huelva.
Emergency services in Andalusia confirmed that a total of 73 people were injured in the crash. Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the accident as “highly unusual,” noting that the derailment took place on a straight section of track that had undergone renovation in May last year.
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. Officials stated that a detailed investigation is underway and may take at least a month to determine what led to the derailment.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the incident a “night of profound pain” for the nation. The private rail operator Iryo, which was running the Malaga-Madrid service, said approximately 300 passengers were on board the derailed train. The second train, operated by state-run company Renfe, was carrying around 100 passengers.
Adamuz Mayor Rafael Moreno, among the first to arrive at the site, described the scene as resembling “a terrible nightmare.” Andalusian emergency authorities urged survivors via social media to confirm their safety online to help ease the anxiety of worried families.
Rescue efforts were severely hampered due to the mangled condition of the train carriages. Córdoba Fire Chief Francisco Carmona said teams faced extremely difficult conditions, at times having to remove bodies to reach survivors trapped inside.
Adif reported that the crash occurred roughly ten minutes after the Malaga-Madrid train departed at 6:40 p.m. local time. Special assistance centres have been set up for affected passengers and families at major stations, including Atocha (Madrid), Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, and Huelva.
Following the accident, all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended and are expected to remain closed until Monday. Stations have been kept open overnight to accommodate stranded travellers.
The train involved was identified as the Frecciarossa 1000 model, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for Italy’s rail operator Ferrovie dello Stato.
The Spanish Red Cross has deployed emergency response teams at the crash site and is also providing psychological support to the victims’ families. Red Cross official Miguel Ángel Rodríguez said families are experiencing severe distress due to limited information.
Spain’s King and Queen expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families of the victims. Messages of sympathy were also issued by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expressing solidarity with the Spanish people.
It is worth noting that Spain’s deadliest high-speed rail disaster occurred in 2013 in the Galicia region, where 80 people were killed, marking one of the darkest chapters in the country’s railway history.
Source: News Agencies
