High-speed train crash kills at least 21 people dozens injured
A high-speed train derailed and collided with another train in Spain on Sunday evening, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 21 people and leaving many others injured in one of the worst rail disasters the country has seen in over a decade.
The train, run by the rail company Iryo, was en route from Malaga to Madrid with 371 passengers on board when its last three carriages came off the tracks and crashed into the front two carriages of an oncoming high-speed train, according to officials.
The accident occurred near Adamuz in the southern region of Andalusia, causing both trains to overturn at high speed, as reported by the news agency EFE. The front carriages of the second train were sent tumbling down an embankment.
In footage, passengers were seen desperately climbing out of train windows, while others managed to escape through the roof.
The tragedy has sparked a wave of sorrow throughout Spain, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describing it as a “night of deep pain” for the nation. European leaders quickly reached out to express their condolences.
This incident stands as one of Spain’s most devastating railway disasters since the Galicia crash in 2013, which claimed 79 lives and left 144 injured when a train collided with a well and erupted in flames near Santiago de Compostela.
After the incident on Sunday, which occurred just after 7:30 PM local time, officials in Andalusia initiated a significant emergency response, bringing together firefighters, police, and a military emergency unit.
In the hours that followed, many passengers found themselves trapped, with video footage capturing the efforts of rescuers working tirelessly to free them in complete darkness.
“The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside,” the region’s chief firefighter Francisco Carmona told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
At least 73 passengers were hurt, with 24 of them in serious condition, according to emergency officials on X.
The second train, an Alvia service operated by Renfe, was making its way from Madrid to Huelva, as reported by the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif). Families of those on board gathered at Huelva station in the southwest of Spain, many of them clearly anxious and distressed as they awaited news about their loved ones, EFE reported.
Antonio Sanz, the Health Minister for the Andalusian Regional Government, shared with local media that the situation is complicated and that the number of fatalities could increase.
Spain’s Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, mentioned that the cause of the incident is still unclear, but he noted that it was “extremely unusual” since it occurred on a straight section of track that had recently been upgraded as part of a €700 million ($8.14 million) investment project, and the train itself was relatively new.
“It is truly strange. All the railway experts who have been here today… and those we have consulted are extremely baffled by the accident,” Puente told Spanish TV channel Telecinco.
The King and Queen of Spain, who are in Athens with their daughters for the funeral of Princess Irene of Greece, said they are following developments in the tragedy “with great concern.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as our best wishes for a speedy recover to the injured,” said a statement from the Royal Household of Spain.
Iryo, the operator of the first train, expressed sorrow over the incident, stating that emergency protocols had been activated and that they were collaborating with authorities to handle the situation.
Renfe, Spain’s national railway company, announced that emergency services have been dispatched to assist the passengers. They’ve also set up psychological support teams and information points for the victims and their families.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia are currently suspended, and trains on the Seville-Madrid line are being redirected back to their starting points, as reported by Adif.
Meanwhile, commercial services between Madrid, Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Puertollano are running as usual.
High-speed train crash kills at least 21 people dozens injured
