At least 21 killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collide near Adamuz, Spain; rescue operations and investigation underway.

Adamuz, Spain: At least 21 people were killed and dozens more injured after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, officials confirmed. The accident occurred near Cordoba, as an evening train traveling from Malaga to Madrid with around 300 passengers went off the tracks at 7:45 pm and crashed into a train carrying approximately 200 passengers from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail operator Adif.

Rescue Efforts and Casualties

Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente confirmed the death toll had reached 21 after midnight, though he cautioned that more victims could still be identified. Andalusia regional President Juanma Moreno said 75 passengers were hospitalized, including 15 with serious injuries, mostly treated in Cordoba.

The Spanish Red Cross established a help center in Adamuz, near the crash site, to assist emergency services and concerned relatives. Members of the Civil Guard and Civil Defense were also deployed, with access restricted to emergency personnel. Officials said recovery operations would continue throughout the night.

Details of the Crash

The first train, operated by the private company Iryo, derailed at the tail end and collided with the oncoming Renfe train, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a 4-meter slope. The most severe damage occurred to the front section of the Renfe train.

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Rescue teams faced difficult terrain, as the crash site is remote and challenging to access. Survivors described a harrowing escape, with some breaking windows with emergency hammers and crawling out of tilted carriages. Journalist Salvador Jimenez, on board one of the trains, likened the derailment to an earthquake.

Iryo expressed deep regret over the incident and said it was cooperating fully with authorities. Transport Minister Puente called the accident “truly strange,” noting it happened on a flat, recently renovated stretch of track. The derailed Iryo train was less than four years old.

Investigation and Reactions

Puente said an inquiry into the cause could take up to a month. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to victims’ families, while King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed sympathy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was following the incident closely.

Impact on Rail Services

High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusian cities were suspended on Monday. Spain operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, spanning over 3,100 kilometers, with trains running at speeds exceeding 250 kph (155 mph). In 2024, more than 25 million passengers traveled on Renfe’s high-speed trains.

Spain’s deadliest train accident this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people died after a train exceeded the speed limit and derailed in the northwest of the country.