At least 39 killed in Andalusia crash
A collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain has killed at least 39 people, according to Spanish authorities, marking one of the deadliest rail disasters in the country in recent years. The crash occurred Sunday evening near Córdoba, triggering a large-scale emergency response.
The incident happened at around 7:45 p.m. local time when the rear of a high-speed train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and slammed into another train heading from Madrid to Huelva. Officials said around 300 passengers were on board the Málaga–Madrid service.
Mass casualty protocol activated
Spain’s Civil Guard confirmed early Monday that the national mass casualty protocol had been activated. Specialized teams, including fingerprinting and DNA experts, were deployed to help identify victims. Authorities have not yet released details on the nationalities of those killed.
Andalusia’s regional president, Juanma Moreno, said 75 passengers were hospitalized, with 15 in very serious condition. Emergency crews worked through the night alongside local residents who assisted injured passengers.
Government vows transparent investigation
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to Adamuz, near the crash site, and promised a “thorough and absolutely transparent” investigation. He described the tragedy as a moment of national mourning and confirmed that he had canceled plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and several Andalusian cities were suspended as investigators began examining the scene.
Cause remains unclear
The cause of the collision has not yet been confirmed. Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, called the accident “truly strange,” noting that it occurred on a flat section of track that had been renovated just months ago. He added that the derailed train was less than four years old.
The train that left the track was operated by private rail company Iryo, while the second train involved belonged to state-owned operator Renfe. According to Puente, the rear of the first train derailed and struck the front of the Renfe train, knocking its first two carriages off the tracks and down a slope.
Passengers recount chaos
Video footage from the scene showed severely damaged carriages and passengers escaping through broken windows. A journalist traveling on one of the trains told Spanish television that the impact felt like an earthquake. Some passengers used emergency hammers to smash windows and climb out, while others walked away with minor injuries.
Both rail operators expressed shock and condolences. Iryo said it had activated all emergency protocols, while Renfe’s leadership described the incident as a tragedy affecting the entire country.
Spain’s high-speed rail under scrutiny
Spain operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with more than 1,900 miles of track and trains regularly exceeding 155 mph. The system is widely regarded as safe and heavily used.
The deadliest train accident in Spain this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people were killed after a derailment in the northwest. That investigation found the train had been traveling well above the speed limit at the time.
As investigators work to determine what went wrong near Córdoba, the latest crash has raised urgent questions about rail safety and oversight across the country.