SPAIN TRAIN DISASTER: 39 DEAD, NUMEROUS INJURED IN COLLISION
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By: Fasasi Hammad
A high-speed train derailed and collided with another in southern Spain on Sunday evening, leaving 39 people dead and more than 120 injured, authorities confirmed on Monday. Officials described the crash as “extremely strange,” marking Spain’s deadliest train accident in over a decade.
The disaster occurred near Adamuz, as an Iryo-operated train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, crossing onto the opposite track and striking an oncoming Renfe train, which also derailed. The interior ministry initially reported 21 deaths, but the toll has since risen to 39. Among the injured, five are in critical condition, with 24 others seriously hurt.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente told reporters the accident happened on a straight, recently renovated section of track. “The first train to derail was practically new,” he said, calling the incident “extremely strange” and “very difficult to explain.”
Rail operator Iryo said around 300 passengers were on board its Malaga-Madrid service, while Renfe has not disclosed passenger numbers. Spain boasts Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, with over 3,000 kilometers connecting major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Malaga.
Emergency teams faced major challenges in the wreckage. Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Córdoba, said: “The carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with people inside. We even had to remove a deceased person to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.” Some carriages had tumbled down a four-metre embankment.
Passengers described terrifying scenes. Montse, a survivor on the second train, told Spanish public television that the train “came to a complete stop, and everything went dark,” with luggage flying across carriages and children crying. Lucas Meriako, on the first train, described the scene as “like a horror movie,” recounting a violent impact from behind and the train shaking violently.
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High-speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusian cities including Córdoba, Seville, Malaga, and Huelva were suspended on Monday, Adif announced.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences on X, calling it “a night of deep pain for our country.” The royal palace said King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were following developments “with great concern,” while leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also offered condolences.
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